BANGKOK, Thailand – Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn presided over the opening of the new passenger terminal at Nakhon Si Thammarat Airport on September 22. Her Royal Highness viewed an exhibition on the airport’s history, the terminal’s architectural concept, and its expanded capacity, as well as its role in supporting tourism and generating economic opportunities for local communities.
The three-story terminal covers 30,600 square meters and connects to the existing terminal by a walkway. The facility increases the airport’s capacity from 450 to 1,600 passengers per hour, or from about 1.3 million to 4.6 million passengers annually. The airport also has a 2,100-meter runway, eight aircraft parking stands, two passenger boarding bridges, and parking for at least 1,000 vehicles. Construction began in September 2019 and was completed in July 2023 at a cost of about 1.459 billion baht.
The terminal combines Southern Thai architecture with contemporary elements, including extended roofs and awnings suited to the region’s hot, humid, and rainy climate. A traditional Thai pavilion serves as its architectural centerpiece, complemented by Thai-inspired lines and details throughout the modern facility.
Four airlines currently operate scheduled services between Don Mueang and Nakhon Si Thammarat: Thai AirAsia with four flights daily, Nok Air with two, Thai Lion Air with five, and Thai VietJet with four. The airport also accommodates government, non-commercial, and flight-training operations and has been designated a customs airport, supporting its potential for further aviation development in southern Thailand. (NNT)
