Thailand’s Ministry of Transport is introducing financial incentives for airlines launching new routes to secondary cities as part of efforts to boost regional tourism and local economies.
Under the initiative, airlines will receive reductions in service fees along with a temporary 50% discount on aircraft parking charges at airports operated by the Department of Airports (DOA).
Several carriers have already begun operating flights under the programme, including Thai Lion Air, Thai VietJetAir, and Thai AirAsia.
In addition, Ezy Airlines is preparing to launch domestic services in 2026, while SAS Scandinavian Airlines plans to introduce a new route connecting Copenhagen and Krabi.
Thailand’s Department of Airports currently oversees 28 regional airports nationwide. The country’s six major gateways — Suvarnabhumi Airport, Don Mueang International Airport, Chiang Mai International Airport, Phuket International Airport, Hat Yai International Airport, and Chiang Rai International Airport — remain under the management of Airports of Thailand.