New routes spark growing international interest

Krabi International Airport is attracting growing interest from international airlines, with new routes from Finland and Scandinavia expected to strengthen tourism and support local development, the Ministry of Transport says.

Deputy Transport Minister Phattrapong Phattraprasit said the ministry is advancing its Airport for Regional Development policy, which aims to position regional airports as key drivers of economic growth, tourism and connectivity beyond Bangkok.

As part of the initiative, the Department of Airports (DoA) recently participated in the 158th IATA Slot Conference in Bangkok, where it presented development plans and expansion potential for Krabi Airport, Surat Thani Airport and others under its management.

Following the conference, 16 airlines sought meetings with the DoA to discuss slot allocations and schedule changes at Krabi Airport to fit their network and fleet rotation plans.

Two new carriers have requested slots for direct services to Krabi. Finnair plans to operate flights between Helsinki and Krabi, while Scandinavian Airlines has proposed services between Copenhagen, Denmark, and Krabi.

Mr Phattrapong said the planned routes would help attract high-spending visitors from Nordic countries, including Finland, Sweden and Denmark.

These travellers typically stay longer and show strong interest in wellness tourism, reinforcing Krabi’s position as a leading destination for Scandinavian visitors.

He added growth from major markets such as India and the Middle East would further boost local businesses, tourism operators and related industries.

The interest shown by leading international airlines also demonstrated Krabi Airport’s readiness and infrastructure capacity to compete globally, he said.

DoA director-general Danai Ruangsorn said airlines have sought a total of 126 international flights for the 2026/27 winter schedule, running from Oct 25, 2026 to March 27, 2027.

The requests include 14 airlines operating through Krabi Airport, comprising 10 scheduled international carriers with 98 flights per week and four international charter operators. Finnair and Scandinavian Airlines each plan to operate two return flights per week.

Mr Danai said discussions with other carriers also highlighted interest from Oman-based low-cost airline Salam Air and China’s Lucky Air, which plans to launch services between Kunming and Udon Thani in September.

The ministry believes expanding international air links will strengthen regional tourism, create economic opportunities and support sustainable growth across southern Thailand.