Samui International Airport
Na Thon (Ko Samui Island), Thailand
Samui International Airport
Private island airport serving Thailand's premier resort destination.
- ›Samui Airport is privately owned and operated by Bangkok Airways, making it one of the few privately owned commercial airports in the world.
- ›The airport's open-air tropical architecture has earned it recognition among the world's most scenic airports.
- ›Because Bangkok Airways controls the facility, competing airlines have faced challenges gaining access, contributing to higher ticket prices.
- ›The airport has a single runway designated 17/35.
- ›It serves primarily leisure traffic, with peak seasons coinciding with Thailand's dry season from December to April.
Samui International Airport is a privately owned facility operated by Bangkok Airways, making it one of the few commercial airports in the world run entirely by an airline. Opened in 1989, it sits on the northeastern coast of Ko Samui island in Surat Thani Province, serving as the primary air gateway to one of Thailand's most popular resort destinations. Its open-air, tropical-style terminals with thatched roofs and lush gardens give it a distinctly relaxed, resort-island character unlike any conventional airport.
- Main Passenger Terminal — Bangkok Airways' signature open-air terminal complex featuring garden walkways, thatched pavilions, and a relaxed tropical ambiance suited to the island setting.
- Domestic Arrivals Hall — Handles domestic and regional arrivals with ground-level baggage claim and direct access to taxi and transfer queues.
- Metered and fixed-rate taxis available at the airport taxi rank outside arrivals
- Pre-booked private transfers arranged through hotels and resorts island-wide
- Songthaew shared pickup trucks serving major beach areas such as Chaweng, Lamai, and Bophut
- Car and motorbike rental counters available near the terminal exits
- Hotel shuttle buses offered by many larger resorts on the island
- Samui Airport Hotel
- Nora Beach Resort & Spa
- Centara Grand Beach Resort Samui
- InterContinental Samui Baan Taling Ngam
- Bo Phut Resort & Spa
Inside the terminal, Bangkok Airways operates its Blue Ribbon Club lounge with complimentary snacks and drinks, available even to economy passengers on Bangkok Airways flights — a notable perk. Several casual cafes and small food outlets are scattered through the terminal selling Thai dishes, sandwiches, and fresh juices. Just outside the airport perimeter, the Chaweng beach road area offers an extensive range of Thai street food, seafood restaurants, and international dining within a short taxi ride.
- Bangkok Airways grants complimentary lounge access to all its passengers regardless of class, so arrive early to take advantage of free food and drinks.
- Confirm your transfer or taxi fare before departing the airport, as prices to distant beaches like Lamai can be significantly higher than to nearby Chaweng.
- The airport is compact and check-in queues can move slowly during peak season — arrive at least 90 minutes before departure for domestic flights.
- Samui sees heavy rain between October and December; check weather forecasts and verify flight status during the monsoon season as delays are common.
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Samui International Airport, also known as Ko Samui Airport or Koh Samui Airport, is a privately owned international airport on the island of Ko Samui in Thailand. It is located in the island’s Bo Phut subdistrict. The airport is roughly 2 km north of the main city and largest resort centre on the island, Chaweng. It was built by Bangkok Airways. Construction began in 1982 and the airport was officially opened in April 1989.
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