Leaving Thailand has become more expensive: what does the new airport fee mean for Hungarian travelers?

From June 20, 2026, a higher international departure passenger traffic fee is in effect at the six major airports managed by Airports of Thailand. The change does not appear as a separate cash fee to be paid at the airport, but is typically built into the price of the flight ticket. For Hungarian travelers, this is primarily important if they depart from Bangkok, Phuket, Chiang Mai, or other AOT airports to return home or continue their journey, and purchase the ticket on or after June 20, 2026.

The modification has now come to the center of international travel news because the previously announced increase has actually come into effect. The Thai tourism authority's news portal and the local press have both confirmed that AOT has increased the Passenger Service Charge (PSC) for international departing passengers from 730 baht to 1,120 baht. This represents an additional 390 baht per passenger. The domestic passenger traffic fee remains unchanged at 130 baht.

This news does not mean that every trip to Thailand will suddenly become dramatically more expensive. Compared to the total price of a long-haul round-trip ticket from Europe, the difference is relatively small. Nevertheless, it is worth noting because Thailand is one of the most important Asian destinations in the Hungarian winter and exotic travel market, and families and those embarking on longer vacations often book multiple tickets, internal transfers, accommodation, and transfers simultaneously. In such cases, every mandatory fee element counts toward the total travel cost.

What exactly changed from June 20?

The essence of the new rule is simple: a higher PSC is charged for passengers departing from Thailand on international flights at airports managed by AOT. According to official information, this fee applies to both Thai and foreign passengers if they leave the country on an international flight. The fee is charged when purchasing the flight ticket, so normally the passenger does not need to pay separately at a counter, gate, or before security checks.

The change applies to six AOT airports: Bangkok Suvarnabhumi, Bangkok Don Mueang, Chiang Mai, Mae Fah Luang-Chiang Rai, Phuket, and Hat Yai. For Hungarian travelers, Bangkok Suvarnabhumi and Phuket are most likely to be relevant, but backpackers, digital nomads, or travelers combining multiple cities often visit Chiang Mai as well. In the case of Bangkok, it is particularly important to distinguish between Suvarnabhumi, which serves international long-haul traffic, and Don Mueang, which handles significant low-cost traffic.

According to Airports of Thailand and Thai tourism communications, tickets issued from June 20, 2026, already reflect the new amount. Based on the communication, for previously purchased tickets, there is no need to prepare for subsequent separate payments solely because of this. This is an important distinction, as many Hungarian travelers purchase winter Bangkok, Phuket, or Southeast Asian flight tickets months in advance.

Who is most affected by the fee increase?

Primarily those who depart from Thailand on an international flight. This could be a classic return trip from Bangkok to Europe, an international flight departing from Phuket, or it could affect those who combine Thailand as part of a regional circuit with Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Cambodia, or Indonesia. If someone, for example, flies from Budapest or Vienna to Bangkok, and then after a few weeks continues from Bangkok to Singapore or Kuala Lumpur, they may encounter the new fee level at that specific Thai international departure.

It is also worth considering for those who purchase several separate tickets. For a single issued Budapest-Bangkok-Phuket-Budapest route, the fees usually appear more transparently in the total price. However, if the passenger buys the long-haul flight, the regional or domestic flight, and the return trip separately, it is easier to overlook taxes and airport fees when comparing final prices.

For family travelers, the effect may be more visible, as the fee is per passenger. For a family of four, the 390 baht increase appears four times in the cost. This still does not necessarily determine a full vacation budget, but it provides a more realistic picture when comparing flight tickets, package prices, and evaluating promotional offers.

Why is Thailand increasing the airport fee?

According to AOT's reasoning, the purpose of the higher PSC is to finance airport operations, infrastructure development, technological modernization, and the improvement of the passenger experience. According to local reports, plans include capacity expansions, terminal developments, automated passenger handling systems, and solutions aimed at reducing queues, speeding up inspection processes, and increasing the efficiency of airport operations.

At the same time, there was debate in Thailand regarding the fee increase. The local press reported that critics believe the increase could particularly affect price-sensitive travelers, and it is questioned how quickly passengers will perceive visible service improvements in exchange for the higher fee. The Thai airport operator, however, argues that there is strong competition among the region's major airports, and without developing capacity, technology, and passenger flow, Thailand could be at a competitive disadvantage in the long run.

This debate is instructive for Hungarian travelers as well. The price of a flight ticket today no longer consists only of the basic fare. Fuel costs, airport taxes, security fees, baggage fees, seat selection, payment and service elements together make up the amount seen at the end of the booking. Therefore, an offer that seems cheap at first can only be fairly compared with another if the passenger considers the total final amount, baggage, transfer risk, and schedule.

What does this mean for Hungarian travel planning?

From Hungary, Thailand is typically reached with a transfer. When searching for Budapest-Bangkok flight tickets, Hungarian travelers often compare Middle Eastern, Turkish, European, and Asian transfer routes. Many also include Vienna in the comparison, so the price and schedule of the Vienna-Bangkok route may also be relevant. In the case of Phuket, Budapest-Phuket flight tickets deserve special attention, as beach vacationers do not always want to travel via Bangkok.

The fee increase is important not only when choosing the departure city but also when planning the end of the stay in Thailand. If someone flies home from Bangkok, it is worth checking the departure information for Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport in advance and organizing the departure in time. For a dawn or late evening flight, reviewing accommodations around Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport or planning the Bangkok airport transfer in advance can be useful.

The logic is similar for Phuket. The island is popular among Hungarian winter vacationers, but the airport can easily become crowded during peak times. When using Phuket International Airport, one must account not only for the new international departure fee but also for seasonal traffic, transfer time, and the location of the accommodation. Those who organize independently should treat the Phuket airport transfer and potential Phuket car rental costs as part of the total vacation budget.

Not just price increases: there is also development pressure on Thai airports

The fee increase cannot be seen in complete isolation. Thailand is one of the region's most important tourism hubs, while airports must simultaneously handle returning international demand, low-cost traffic, premium long-haul routes, and domestic tourism. At Phuket airport, for example, recent reports indicate that they are trying to speed up the international arrival process for passengers with e-passports using automated entry gates. This clearly shows that in the Thai airport system, there is not only a price increase but also a necessity for capacity and process development.

From the passenger's perspective, however, the decisive question is not what a fee increase theoretically serves, but how much more predictable, faster, and more comfortable the travel will be in practice. If the higher fee supports shorter queues, better terminal capacity, and more reliable passenger handling in the long run, then the change is less painful. If the passenger only perceives the more expensive ticket, but not the improvement in service, then criticism may intensify.

What should those booking to Thailand now pay attention to?

The most important advice is that Hungarian travelers should not look only at the base price. The total amount appearing at the end of the booking should be compared, including taxes, airport fees, baggage, seat selection, and potential payment costs. This is especially true if the traveler compares the same trip across multiple booking sites, from multiple departure cities, and with multiple airlines.

• Check whether the ticket was issued before or after June 20, 2026.
• Check if the departure from Thailand is an international flight, as the higher PSC applies to this.
• Account for the per-passenger fee, especially for family or group travel.
• For separate tickets, compare the total final amount, not just the first base price that appears.
• For Bangkok, Phuket, and Chiang Mai, allow sufficient time for airport transport and checks.
• In case of questioned fee items or different prices, contact the airline or the booking service.

Summary: it seems like a small item, but it is a good indicator of the total travel cost

The increase in the Thai PSC is unlikely to deter Hungarian travelers from Bangkok, Phuket, or Chiang Mai on its own. Thailand remains a strong value-for-money, diverse, and year-round attractive destination. The change is still an important reminder: in 2026, the price of long-distance travel consists of more and more small, mandatory, or optional fee elements, and to make a good decision, the total cost must be viewed.

Those planning a trip to Thailand now should book calmly but consciously. The higher airport fee will not come as a separate airport surprise, but will be part of the ticket price. The best defense against misunderstandings is transparent price comparison, appropriate transfer time, pre-arranged airport transfer, and the fact that the passenger knows at the time of booking: for international flights departing from Thailand, a new fee level must be accounted for from June 20.