Thailand is advancing its "Airport for Regional Development" policy to strengthen international air connectivity and bring more visitors directly to regional tourism destinations.

From 2-15 October 2026, SiamWings Airlines is operating nine charter flights between Krabi Airport and four Russian cities: Novosibirsk, Krasnoyarsk, Moscow, and Yekaterinburg. The service is expected to bring more than 3,000 Russian visitors to Krabi, boosting tourism and local businesses along the Andaman coast.

According to the Department of Airports, the flights show Krabi Airport is ready to handle international services, backed by its new passenger terminal. SiamWings flies Airbus A330-200 aircraft with a capacity of 345 passengers, and the inaugural flight on October 2 carried 345 passengers from Krabi to Novosibirsk Tolmachevo Airport.

The service supports the strategy of Thailand’s Ministry of Transport to develop regional airports as gateways to tourism destinations and local economies. By improving direct access from overseas markets like Russia, the policy aims to create opportunities for hotels, restaurants, transport providers, and community businesses, while spreading tourism income more widely across the Andaman region.

To attract more airlines and expand regional routes, the Department of Airports is also running its “New Route-New Airline" incentive program from 10 August 10 2026 to 9 August 2027:
∙ New routes: 50% off landing and aircraft parking fees for one year
∙ Airlines newly serving an airport: the same 50% reduction for six months

These incentives aim to encourage new domestic and international services, give travelers more choices, and support tourism-led economic growth across Thailand's regions.