AirAsia returns to Suvarnabhumi Airport with 3 domestic routes

Legacy Thai AirAsia has resumed domestic operations from Suvarnabhumi International Airport, restoring three routes after a two-and-a-half month suspension. The airline commenced flights to Chiang Mai, Phuket, and Krabi on October 1, offering a combined load factor of over 82% on the newly launched services. Daily flights now operate up to six times to Chiang Mai, five times to Phuket, and twice daily to Krabi.

This return provides passengers traveling between Bangkok and these destinations with a choice between Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports, the latter remaining AirAsia's main base in Bangkok, serving 22 domestic destinations. The suspension of Suvarnabhumi domestic routes, which lasted from July 15 to September 30, was due to rising aviation fuel costs and reduced mid-year travel demand.

Before the halt, AirAsia flew to additional destinations including Buri Ram, Chiang Rai, Hat Yai, Khon Kaen, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Surat Thani, and Udon Thani. The airline plans to increase domestic capacity broadly as Thailand enters the year-end high season, with an expected 135 domestic flights a day between October and December, exceeding the third quarter's peak average of 88 daily services.

Further regional expansion is scheduled to begin on October 25, when Phuket will receive direct AirAsia services to Khon Kaen and Udon Thani. These restored flights enable international arrivals at Suvarnabhumi to connect directly to three major domestic tourism destinations without transferring to Don Mueang.