This new airport is the gateway to Thailand’s emerging beach hotspots

The airport

Nakhon Si Thammarat International Airport, Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, Thailand.

The $62.5 million Nakhon Si Thammarat International Airport spans three levels.

The flight

Nok Air DD559 from Nakhon Si Thammarat (NST) to Don Mueang (DMK) Bangkok, economy class. Flight time, one hour 10 minutes. See nokair.com

The arrival

The airport is 14 kilometres from the province capital, Nakhon Si Thammarat, and a 45-minute drive from popular Sichon Beach on the Gulf of Thailand. A local taxi is the easiest way to reach the airport.

The look

An outdoor reflecting pool features Thai temple-inspired features.

At first glance, the look is generic “new flat-pack airport terminal”, but a large outdoor reflecting pool with Thai temple-like features adds a vernacular identity. The three-level, open-plan terminal is easy to navigate and compact enough to not need moving walkways. The $62.5 million terminal is purpose-built for local and international flights. Replacing an older domestic facility, the new building has serviced Thai domestic flights since September 2023. International flights, initially from Singapore, Taiwan, China and Malaysia, will make NST Thailand’s newest international airport. At capacity, the eight-gate facility is designed to handle up to 4 million passengers a year.

Check-in

At the time of travel, the website of Thai budget carrier Nok Air allowed online seat selection but not check-in; however, the airport desk check-in and luggage drop were trouble-free. Giant display screens, visible from everywhere, direct passengers to appropriate counters and show all schedule times. Signage is in Thai and English. Four carriers – Nok Air, Thai AirAsia, Thai VietJet and Thai Lion Air – currently fly between Nakhon Si Thammarat and Bangkok.

Security

Departure is located on the third floor, the airport’s highest. Security here is courteous but thorough, and involves the standard regimen of laptops out, belts and hats off, empty pockets, no liquids, and similar restrictions. Passengers board by announced rows.

Food and drink

The airport’s facilities are evolving. At the time of travel, there were only a few food franchises in the public concourse, including Black Canyon Coffee and Auntie Annie’s pretzels. More are to follow. A pop-up Thai eatery was semi-hidden up on the mezzanine level. No filtered drinking water fountains were evident on either side of the security zone, obliging thirsty passengers to buy single-use bottled water before and, if necessary, after the security inspection. This is not the norm in Thai airports and not best practice. See blackcanyonthai.com; auntieannes.com

Retail therapy

Limited but growing. Local Thai handicrafts are available at the concourse OTOP community store, while packaged Thai snacks, bakery, souvenirs, silks and handicrafts can be found in the airside boarding zone. See otopthailand.com

Passing time

It’s lacking in lounges … the hub currently services budget carriers.

There are no airline lounges at the time of travel, as the carriers are budget. Bring your own distractions – device, book, companions, drinks, snacks. Adequate seating is available in the large but over-lit concourse area, and there are free device-charging stations.

The verdict

A well-designed and well-run airport, with the exception of no free drinking water. A very convenient new gateway to southern Thailand and its emerging coastal destinations like Sichon and Khanom, as well as nearby Koh Samui. See nakhonsithammaratairport.com

Our rating out of five

★★★★

The writer travelled as a guest of Urasaya Property.