AOT passenger growth slows to 1.8% in nine months
Suvarnabhumi's international passengers rose 7.3% in August while Don Mueang's fell 29.4%, and the East Expansion still needs a green light.
Airports of Thailand (AOT) carried 99.03 million passengers through its six airports in the nine months from October 2025 to June 2026, up 1.84% on the year before, Pattaya Mail reported. Flights rose just 0.61% to 605,838. International passengers were 60.24 million and domestic 38.79 million.
Growth has since gone into reverse. In August 2026 AOT's passengers fell 1.1% and flights fell 1.4% on a year earlier, the fifth month in a row below 2025 levels, according to a TISCO analysis summarised by Kaohoon International. August was better than July, on both passengers and flights.
Where the traffic is, and is not
The August split between Bangkok's two airports is stark. At Suvarnabhumi, international passengers rose 7.3% but domestic passengers fell 7.8%. At Don Mueang, international passengers dropped 29.4%. Domestic passengers across the network fell 3.9%.
Thai Airways carried 7% more passengers on 4% more flights, while other airlines combined grew passengers 3% on 2% more flights, the same analysis found. Kaohoon attributes the weakness to geopolitical tension.
Money held up better than traffic. AOT's net profit for the nine months was 14.81 billion baht, up 3.86%, though revenue slipped 1.39% to 51.60 billion baht. In April to June, net profit rose 14.93% to 4.44 billion baht on revenue of 15.49 billion baht, down 3.70%, and expenses fell 11.73%.
The forecast and the arithmetic
In September 2025 AOT forecast more than 130 million passengers and 859,000 flights for fiscal 2026, The Nation reported. That forecast came when traffic was growing 9.2% a year. After nine months the count stands at 99.03 million. Our arithmetic: hitting 130 million needs about 31 million passengers in July to September, against an average of roughly 33 million a quarter so far. AOT's fiscal year runs from October to September, so it has just closed, and full-year results have not yet been published.
The East Expansion
Suvarnabhumi can handle about 65 million passengers a year. In August 2025 acting AOT president Paweena Jariyathitipong told the Bangkok Post, carried by The Phuket News, that the airport was handling about 60 million. AOT then expected about 67 million passengers by the time the East Expansion opens, down from an earlier 75 million, because the Chinese tourist recovery was slower than hoped.
The East Expansion adds 81,000 square metres of terminal and raises capacity by 15 million passengers, to 70 to 80 million a year, according to Southeast Asia Infrastructure. The budget moved from 12 billion baht to 13.52 billion baht including 7% VAT in Nation Thailand's May 2026 report, republished by the British Aviation Group.
The timetable has slipped. In August 2025 AOT expected a tender in early 2026 and completion in 2030. By October 2025 the project was waiting for Cabinet approval, with construction due to start in 2026. We found no report confirming that approval since. Completion is still targeted for 2030.
Beyond the East Expansion, AOT's 2025 master plan centres on a South Terminal and a fourth runway south of the airport, aiming for up to 120 million passengers a year. The South Terminal is designed at 1.59 million square metres. Nation Thailand's May 2026 report says the revised roadmap keeps the 120 million goal for Suvarnabhumi over the next decade. The whole six-airport plan is worth more than 364.98 billion baht and aims for 180 million passengers a year by 2034. Earlier in 2026, Pattaya Mail put that 2034 figure at 214.5 million. We use the later, lower number.
AOT is also courting private money around the runways. AOT told The Nation in August that three to four potential investors, mainly in logistics, freight transport and warehouse management, have shown interest in a 723-rai plot near Suvarnabhumi, and that it is studying whether to bring back arrival duty-free shops.
What to watch
Watch for AOT's fiscal 2026 results, which will show whether the 130 million forecast was met, and for any Cabinet decision on the 13.52 billion baht East Expansion tender.
FAQ
How many passengers did AOT handle in fiscal 2026 so far?
AOT handled 99.03 million passengers in the nine months to June 2026, up 1.84%. August 2026 traffic was 1.1% lower than a year earlier.
How big is the Suvarnabhumi East Expansion?
It adds 81,000 square metres and 15 million passengers of annual capacity at a budget of 13.52 billion baht including VAT, with completion targeted for 2030.
What is Suvarnabhumi's capacity?
About 65 million passengers a year today. AOT plans to reach 70 to 80 million with the East Expansion and 120 million over the next decade.
Sources
- Pattaya Mail: AOT profit surges nearly 15% in third quarter as passenger numbers top 99 million
- Kaohoon International: AOT shares edge up as passenger numbers rebound in August
- The Nation: Thailand's AOT reports record growth as airport expansion plans accelerate
- The Phuket News (Bangkok Post): AoT revises airport plan, targets 120mn
- Southeast Asia Infrastructure: AOT pushes Suvarnabhumi expansion in 4-month investment plan
- British Aviation Group (Nation Thailand, 16 May 2026): AOT airport development plan
- Pattaya Mail: AOT posts 4.65 billion baht Q1 profit as passenger growth pushes airports near capacity
- The Nation: AOT weighs arrival duty-free return after 14.8bn-baht profit
