Bangkok: The government is advancing its "New Route - New Airline" initiative, aiming to cut airport fees by 50% to encourage the establishment of new flight routes to regional areas, thereby boosting travel options and enhancing local tourism and economic growth. Today, Ms. Lalida Periswiwatana, Deputy Spokesperson for the Prime Minister's Office, disclosed that the government is committed to expanding air travel options and enhancing connections between major cities and regional areas.
According to Thai News Agency, the Ministry of Transport and the Department of Airports (DOA) have launched measures to foster the development of domestic and international flight routes under the "New Route - New Airline" initiative. These measures include a 50% reduction in landing and parking fees to motivate airlines to inaugurate new routes and offer services at regional airports. The initiative is effective from August 10, 2026, to August 9, 2027.
Ms. Lalida highlighted that Mr. Phatarapong Phatprasit, Deputy Minister of Transport, has been instrumental in promoting these measures under the "Airport for Regional Development" policy. The policy aims to leverage airports as a catalyst for regional economic development, enhance airline competitiveness, and provide more travel options in terms of routes, pricing, and service quality.
The program offers benefits in two distinct categories: New Routes, with a 50% discount on landing and parking fees for one year for routes never before served or those that ceased operations for at least a year, and New Airlines, with a similar discount for six months for airlines that have never operated at a particular airport or have not operated there for a year. These advantages apply to both domestic and international flights at airports managed by the Department of Airports.
Ms. Lalida noted that the initiative has garnered positive feedback from airlines. In 2025, six new flight routes were proposed to benefit from the initiative, including Udon Thani-U-Tapao, Buriram-Bangkok, Narathiwat-Bangkok, Nakhon Si Thammarat-Bangkok, Betong-Hat Yai, and Surat Thani-Hat Yai. Additionally, new airlines have sought to utilize the benefits on the Nakhon Si Thammarat-Bangkok and Nakhon Phanom-Don Mueang routes, demonstrating the program's success in encouraging network expansion to regional areas.
"The aim of this measure is not only to reduce costs for airlines but also to benefit the public. Increased airline participation and more routes will offer greater choices, minimize monopolies on routes dominated by a single provider, and foster competition in pricing and service quality. Enhanced city connectivity will spur travel, tourism, trade, and investment, thereby distributing income to local areas and communities," Ms. Lalida stated.
Airlines interested in participating can submit applications to the Department of Airports for approval. The government anticipates that extending this measure in 2026 will attract more domestic and international airlines to establish routes to regional airports, consistent with the "Airport for Regional Development" strategy. This strategy aims to utilize aviation infrastructure to link economic and tourism opportunities to the regions, making travel more convenient, quicker, and providing more options, ultimately generating sustainable income for communities.