Govt issues order to accelerate Hua Hin Airport upgrade
Hua Hin Airport upgrade ordered for international flights
The government has ordered the Hua Hin Airport upgrade to be accelerated as part of plans to prepare the airport for direct international flights and support tourism in secondary cities.
Deputy Government Spokesperson Lalida Permsiwattana said on 30 May that the government is moving ahead with plans to improve transport and tourism infrastructure as part of efforts to stimulate regional economies.
She said Hua Hin Airport is being developed as a tourism gateway for the upper South and the Gulf of Thailand, with the aim of attracting more international visitors and strengthening regional economic links.
The announcement followed a visit to the airport by Deputy Transport Minister Phattharaphong Phattharprasit, who inspected progress at the airport and ordered agencies to speed up work related to safety and international flight readiness.
Airport safety work due by August
Hua Hin Today file photo
The Department of Airports has been instructed to accelerate construction of a road tunnel and the expansion of safety areas around the Runway 16 end of Hua Hin Airport.
The work is scheduled to be completed by August 2026 and is intended to bring the airport in line with requirements from the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand.
Officials have also been told to prepare short-term and long-term plans to address safety issues and speed up the process of obtaining a public airport operating certificate from CAAT.
Ms Lalida said the certification process is an important step in building confidence among foreign airlines that Hua Hin Airport can safely handle flights and passengers in line with international standards.
International routes and tourism packages discussed
The Ministry of Transport is also working with agencies and businesses in Prachuap Khiri Khan, including tourism operators, airlines and hotels, to support plans for future direct international routes.
The focus is expected to include high-spending visitors, long-stay tourists and wellness tourism groups, in line with the government’s policy to promote quality tourism and distribute income to secondary-city provinces.
Discussions have also been held on creating package offers that combine air tickets, accommodation and transport services.
Relevant agencies, including immigration, customs, plant quarantine and animal quarantine offices, are also preparing for the possible return of international flights.
Hua Hin Airport currently has capacity to handle 300 passengers per hour. It has a runway measuring 2,100 by 35 metres and an apron that can accommodate two A320 or B737-800 aircraft at the same time.
The airport previously handled international flights on the Kuala Lumpur-Hua Hin-Kuala Lumpur route between 2018 and 2020, before the service was suspended during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Thai AirAsia currently operates the Chiang Mai-Hua Hin route.
Ms Lalida said the government believes the Hua Hin Airport upgrade will help stimulate tourism, support local businesses and create income for people in the area, while helping position Hua Hin as a future international destination.
