Bangkok Airways, the regional airline, is making a substantial investment in expanding its two wholly owned airports: Koh Samui (USM) and Trat (TDX). The company will allocate THB2.3 billion ($69 million) towards this ambitious project.
The majority of the investment, THB1.5 billion, will be dedicated to significantly expanding the flagship Koh Samui Airport. This expansion will see the number of gates increase from seven to eleven, along with the addition of ten new check-in counters. The airport’s commercial area will also be more than doubled from 1,800 m² to 4,000 m². Construction is set to commence in 2025 and conclude in 2027.
This expansion is driven by Bangkok Airways’ expectation of doubling the number of passengers handled by USM by 2027, reaching around 4 million passengers per year. This growth is expected to contribute significantly to the company’s revenue, reaching 60% of their total.
The remaining THB800 million will be used to extend the runway at Trat Airport. The runway will be extended from 1,800 meters to 2,100 meters, allowing TDX to accommodate jet-powered airliners. This will open up new possibilities for the airport, attracting a wider range of airlines and destinations.
To support this anticipated growth, Bangkok Airways is also adding two more Airbus A319s to its fleet by the end of the year. The airline currently operates two Airbus A320s, ten A319s, and ten ATR72-600s, according to Aviation Week Network Fleet Discovery database.
Currently, 83.8% of USM’s seats are allocated for domestic routes, according to CAPA – Centre for Aviation and OAG Schedules Analyser data. However, the arrival of Scoot’s Embraer E190-E2 flights connecting Singapore to Koh Samui in May 2024 has significantly increased the international segment, adding 3,360 weekly seats—the largest international segment departing from the resort island.
These investments highlight Bangkok Airways’ commitment to growing its operations and providing enhanced air travel experiences for passengers at both Koh Samui and Trat airports. The expansion projects are expected to contribute to the regional economy and boost tourism in these areas.
