Thailand has 3 international airports. The Don Muang International Airport north of Bangkok serves central Thailand. In the north, there is an international airport at Chiang Mai while the south has Phuket International Airport. The flag carrier of Thailand is Thai Airways, which provides international and domestic air services.
For international flights, Thai Airways has a highly modern fleet of jumbo jets, DC 10’s and Airbus 300’s. These fly regular services to 7 cities in Europe, 21 in Asia, 2 in the US and 4 in Australia.
Domestically, Thai Airways links 19 airports in different parts of the kingdom. The prevailing aircraft for connections between Bangkok and major provincial cities is the Boeing 737. Shorter routes are served by Short 330’s. Domestic flights are much cheaper per kilometer than are international flights.
Some tourist destinations such as Ko Samui are served by the small private airline Bangkok Airways (airline addresses see below).
The airport tax at Bangkok’s Don Muang Airport is 200 Baht for international flights and 20 Baht for domestic flights.
For international destinations, Thai nationals and foreign permanent residents have to pay a travel tax of 1,000 Baht.
Airport Authority of Thailand
Vibhavadi Rangsit Road
Tel 535-1111, 535-1254, 535-1301
Airport Connections
There are 6 different means of transportation between Bangkok’s Don Muang Airport and the city: 1) regular taxi (with yellow registration plate), 2) limousine car, 3) mini-bus, 4) public bus (aircon and non-aircon), 5) normal trains from northern and northeastern destinations and 6) special airport express trains.
Taxi fares depend on the distance and must be negotiated before boarding the taxi. A limousine car charges 300 Baht per car for any destination in Bangkok while the mini-bus costs 100 Baht per person for any hotel, or just 60 Baht to the city terminal (Asia Hotel). Both limousine car and mini-bus are run by Thai Airways International and operate 24 hours. Large hotels customarily send cars to pick up passengers who have reservations.
By Bus
The cheapest way to travel between the airport and the city is by public bus. There are bus stops right in front of the airport.
No 4 (aircon) Airport - Pratunam Market - Rajadamri Road - Lumphini Park - Silom Road - New Road, 15 Baht, until 20:00
No 10 (aircon) Airport - Northern Bus Terminal - Victory Monument - Ratwithi Road - Southern Bus Terminal, 15 Baht, until 20:30
No 13 (aircon) Airport - Northern Bus Terminal - Victory Monument - Sukhumvit Road - Eastern Bus Terminal, 15 Baht, until 20:00
No 29 (aircon) Airport - Northern Bus Terminal - Victory Monument - Siam Square - Bangkok Railway Station (Hua Lamphong), 15 Baht, until 20:30
No 29 (blue sign non-aircon) same routing as No 29 aircon bus, 3 Baht, until 22:00
No 59 (blue sign non-aircon) Airport - Northern Bus Terminal - Victory Monument - Ratchadamnoen Klang Ave - Phramane Ground (Sanam Luang), 3 Baht, until 21:30
No 95 (blue sign non-aircon) Airport - Bangkapi - Ramkhamhaeng University, 3 Baht, until 21:30
There are also number 59 and 29 buses with red signboards. They ply different, shorter routes than the buses with blue signboards.
An aircon coach connects the airport directly with Pattaya; departures from the airport are 3 times a day at 9:00, 12:00 and 19:00. Tickets are 180 Baht per trip.
By Train
A convenient connection between the airport and the city is by rail - but only for those who come from or want to get into the Silom Road area, as Silom Road is just about 15 minutes by taxi or bus from Bangkok’s Hua Lamphong railway station. To take a train doesn’t make much sense for those who come from or want to get into the Sukhumvit Road area as it usually takes about an hour to travel from the Hua Lamphong station to Sukhumvit Road, or the other way around.
While it has been possible to travel between Don Muang airport and Bangkok’s Hua Lamphong station for many years, a special Airport Express train service has only been introduced November 1, 1991. For the straight amount of 100 Baht per passenger, the State Railway of Thailand not only connects between Hua Lamphong station and Don Muang station but also provides transportation in an air-conditioned bus between the airport and the railway station. As the trains make the distance in about 35min, they are considerably faster than buses.
Tickets are sold at the Thai Airway’s limousine counter in the arrival hall of the international terminal, at the Thai counter in the arrival hall of the domestic terminal and on platform 12 of Hua Lamphong station.
Ordinary train connections between Hua Lamphong station and Don Muang station cost less than half, even when travelling first class, but this does not include a shuttle service between the airport terminals and the Don Muang railway station.
The Don Muang railway station and the airport terminals are just a few hundred meters apart and there is a foot bridge crossing the highway. With little luggage, one can easily walk the distance.
Bangkok - Don Muang
Airport Express departures are at 7:35, 10:35, 13:35, 15:35, 17:55 and 20:45.
All other trains leaving Bangkok’s Hua Lamphong Station for northern or northeastern destinations stop at Don Muang. Most trains take about 45min. There is no scheduled stop between Bangkok and Don Muang, but nevertheless, many trains stop for a minute or two at Bang Sue station in the northern part of town. While the normal fares for the distance of 22km are just 5 Baht for 3rd class, 10 for 2nd class and 18 for 1st class, there is a rapid or express train charge of 20 Baht and 30 Baht, respectively, on all but 5 of the 18 trains daily. To go to the Don Muang Airport by train is a valuable option especially during night hours when there are no buses and one would otherwise have to take a taxi. Departures from Hua Lamphong Station are at 6:15 (arr 6:54), 6:40 (arr 7:23), 6:50 (arr 7:35), 7:05 (arr 7:48), 7:15 (arr 8:01), 8:20 (arr 8:58), 8:30 (arr 9:15), 10:55 (arr 11:30), 11:05 (arr 11:40), 15:00 (arr 15:40), 15:25 (arr 16:12), 16:35 (arr 17:12), 18:00 (arr 18:40), 18:45 (arr 19:26), 19:00 (arr 19:42), 19:40 (arr 20:20), 20:00 (arr 20:40), 20:30 (arr 21:12), 21:00 (arr 21:42), 21:50 (arr 22:29), 22:00 (arr 22:43), 22:25 (arr 23:02), 22:45 (arr 23:26), 23:10 (arr 23:46) and 23:25 (arr 0:09).
Don Muang - Bangkok
Special Airport Express departures are at 8:50, 11:40, 14:35, 16:55, 19:40 and 22:05.
All normal trains from northern and northeastern destinations have their last stop at Don Muang before proceeding to Bangkok’s Hua Lamphong Station. Trains are convenient to get into towns if one’s plane arrives during the night hours when buses don’t operate. For fares and other remarks see entries under the opposite direction. Departures at Don Muang Railway Station for Bangkok are at 2:11 (arr 3:00), 2:46 (arr 3:30), 3:20 (arr 4:00), 3:41 (arr 4:25), 3:55 (arr 4:35), 4:04 (arr 4:45), 4:20 (arr 5:00), 4:38 (arr 5:20), 4:48 (arr 5:30), 5:02 (arr 5:40), 5:20 (arr 6:00), 5:43 (arr 6:25), 7:41 (arr 8:25), 9:43 (arr 10:25), 11:17 (arr 12:00), 13:40 (arr 14:15), 14:07 (arr 14:55), 14:18 (arr 15:00), 15:54 (arr 16:30), 16:39 (arr 17:25), 17:07 (arr 17:50), 17:55 (arr 18:40), 18:53 (arr 19:40), 19:23 (arr 20:05) and 21:49 (arr 22:25).
International Airlines
(Numbers in brackets refer to locations as shown in Bangkok maps.)
Aeroflot Soviet Airline (SU) Regent House, 138 Rajadamri Rd Tel 251-0617 to 18, Fax 255-3138 Rsvn 253-5733 to 7, 253-4241 to 4 Flight info 535-2366, 535-2466 535-2160, 532-2795
Air France (AF) Ground fl, Charn Issara Tower 942/51 Rama IV Rd Tel 234-1333 to 9, 233-9477 Fax 236-9278
Air India (AI) 16th fl, Amarin Tower, 500 Ploenchit Rd Tel 256-9614 to 19, Fax 256-9605
Air Lanka (UL) Ground fl, Charn Issara Tower 942/34-35 Rama IV Rd Tel 236-7617, 236-9292 to 3, 236-0159
Alia Royal Jordanian Airline (RJ) Ground fl, Yada Bldg, 56 Silom Rd Tel 236-8609 to 17, 236-0030 to 9 Fax 236-6796, Tlx 84831 DEKSTH
Alitalia (AZ) 8th fl Boonmitr Bldg, 138 Silom Rd Tel 233-4000 to 4, 234-5253, 234-5257
Ana Nippon Air 3rd fl, C.P. Tower, 313 Silom Rd Tel 231-0380 to 2, Fax 231-0378
Bangladesh Biman (BG) 56 Chongkolnee Bldg, Surawong Rd Tel 235-7643 to 4, 235-3616 to 9
Bangkok Airways (SK) 140 Pacific Place Building 144 Sukhumvit Rd (near Soi 4) Tel 253-4014 to 6, 253-8942 to 7 Fax 253-4005, Tlx 82654 BUMC TH
British Airways (BA) 2nd fl, Charn Issara Tower 942/81 Rama IV Rd Tel 236-8655 to 8, 236-0038 Fax 236-6735, Tlx 82669 BA TH
Canadian Airlines International (CP) Pacific Leisure, 6th fl Maneeya Bldg 518/5 Ploenchit Rd Tel 251-4521, 251-4466, Fax 253-5159
Cathay Pacific Airways (CX) 5th fl, Charn Issara Tower 942/136 Rama IV Rd Tel 233-6105 to 9, 233-9825 Tktg 235-4330 to 9 Fax 233-0176, Tlx 21468 CXBKK TH
China Airlines (CI) 4th fl, Peninsula Plaza Bldg 153 Rajadamri Rd Tel 253-5733 to 7, 253-4241 to 4 Fax 253-4791
China Southern Airlines 134/1-2 Silom Rd Tel 235-1880 to 2, 235-6510 to 1 235-5250 to 4, Fax 236-5279 Tlx 21986 CSNBKK Th
Czechoslovak Airlines (CK) Far East Travel 20/10-11 Soi Bangkok, Chidlom Rd Tel 253-3063 to 4, Tlx 84344 SECKK
Dragon Air (KA) 92 Piyathani Bldg, Soi 18, Sukhumvit Rd Tel 258-1413 to 6, Fax 258-6597
Egypt Air (MS) C.P. Tower, 120 Silom Rd Tel 233-7599, 233-7601 to 3
EVA Air Ground fl, Soon Hua Seng Building 122-122/1 Sathorn Nua Rd Tel 238-2479, 238-2484, Fax 238-2491