A small airport in Satuek district, about 34 km from Buriram town and 75 km from Surin, served by Thai AirAsia twice daily from Bangkok Don Mueang. The drive into town takes 30 to 40 minutes, and with no rail link and only a private van, most travellers arrange a car. Arrive 90 minutes ahead, or two hours in MotoGP week.
By the bookingMentor Travel Desk · Updated · How we research
A quiet regional airport most of the year and a busy one in race weeks. This guide covers the new terminal, how to reach Buriram, Surin and Chang International Circuit, and how to plan around MotoGP.
Please note: Flights, hotels near the airport and car hire with driver on this page can be booked directly on bookingMentor. We list places on merit, and bookings never affect what we say about them.
What to expect
Buriram Airport (BFV) lies in Satuek district, about 34 km north of Buriram town, set back from Highway 219 inside the Khok Jot forest reserve. The Department of Airports opened it in October 1996, and it also serves Surin, roughly 75 km away by road.
For most of its life the airport ran from a single-storey terminal of about 4,100 m². In February 2026 the Department of Airports soft-opened a new passenger terminal of 25,500 m², built for about ฿619 million and designed for up to 1,000 passengers an hour, or around 2.8 million a year, with space for international as well as domestic flights. The 2,100 m runway takes Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 aircraft.
New Buriram terminal, October 2026: the Department of Airports soft-opened a new 25,500 m² passenger terminal on 6 February 2026 so it could handle the MotoGP crowds, raising capacity from about 450 to 1,000 passengers an hour. A formal opening was expected after the trial period. Some older guides and photos still show the original single-storey building, so follow the airport signage on the day.
Scheduled service is limited. Thai AirAsia is the only airline, with two daily rotations to Bangkok Don Mueang; its Suvarnabhumi flights are suspended, and Nok Air left in 2024. Traffic was about 242,000 passengers in 2025. The picture changes completely in race weeks: for the MotoGP Grand Prix of Thailand at Chang International Circuit in early 2026, more than 120 scheduled, private and extra flights were planned over two weeks. Outside those peaks, expect a quiet airport with few flights and a long drive into town.
Airlines that have come and gone
Buriram has seen a long line of carriers since it opened on 14 October 1996. Thai Airways International flew here from 1996 to 2002, followed by Phuket Air from 2002 to 2005 and PBair from 2005 to 2009. Nok Air served the airport until 2024. Each departure left the airport with fewer flights, and Thai AirAsia is now on its own. Passenger numbers peaked at 355,497 in 2019 and fell 15 per cent in 2025, from 255,350 to 241,946, with 1,756 aircraft movements over the year.
The airport stands 180 m above sea level in tambon Ron Thong, and its single runway is 45 m wide. With a single scheduled airline, check the timetable well ahead of race weekends, when extra and charter flights are added.
Landside and airside
Landside is the public check-in hall and arrivals area; airside is the gate area after security. Buriram's flights are domestic, so there is no passport control, and moving between the two takes minutes.
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Good to know
IATA / ICAOBFV / VTUO
Terminals in useNew passenger terminal
To city centre~34 km
Fastest to the cityCar hire with driver
CurrencyThai baht (฿ THB)
24-hour foodNone
Time zoneUTC+7
Sleep-friendlyPoor
About this guide
How we research this airport guide
This guide is written and maintained by the bookingMentor Travel Desk. We check terminal, flight and transport details against Department of Airports announcements, airline schedules and Thai news coverage, most recently for the new terminal and the 2026 MotoGP flights.
Last updated . Transport details at Buriram change in race weeks; confirm before you travel. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.
Fact-checked by the bookingMentor Travel Desk
Reviewed · Updated when rules or prices change
Checked against trusted sources: Department of AirportsAirline schedules and press coverageThai national news coverage of the new terminal and MotoGP
See all 3 sources
Department of Airports (Thailand) announcements
Airline schedules and press coverage
Thai national news coverage of the new terminal and MotoGP
Flight board
Departures and arrivals listed on bookingMentor for Buriram Airport.
No departures from BFV are listed yetSearch the airlines' fares for your dates instead.Search flights from BFV
No arrivals into BFV are listed yetSearch the airlines' fares for your dates instead.Search flights to BFV
Times are from the flights listed on bookingMentor, not a live departure feed. Always confirm with your airline before travelling.
Airlines at this airport
Scheduled passenger flights from Buriram. Extra and charter services operate for major events at Chang International Circuit.
Buriram Airport has no known lounge in either the old or the new terminal.
No lounges match that filter.
Lounge list coming soonLounges at Buriram Airport are not listed yet. Your airline or lounge programme can confirm access.Ask the travel team
Water, showers & mobile charging
Mobile charging
Thailand uses types A, B, C, F and O sockets at 220 V. Carry a power bank, particularly on busy race days.
Luggage storage & lockers
No luggage storage details yetLeft-luggage services and rates at Buriram Airport are not listed yet. Check with the airport information desk on arrival.Ask the travel team
WiFi & connectivity
WiFi details not checked yetWiFi access and login details are not listed yet. A local SIM or eSIM is a reliable backup.Ask the travel team
Food & drinks
Food outlets in the new terminal are not listed yet, so eat before you arrive if you can. Eat in Buriram before the drive out to Satuek.
No outlets match that filter.
Food and drink list coming soonRestaurants and cafés at Buriram Airport are not listed yet.Ask the travel team
More airport information
A newly built terminal with essential services. Search for what you need.
Aircraft standsRoom for up to six Boeing 737 or Airbus A320 aircraft, which matters during MotoGP charters.
Bilingual signageDirections in the new terminal are in Thai and English.
Car parkParking beside the terminal; the original building had space for about 100 cars.
Car rentalRental companies operate at the airport. Book ahead for race weeks.
Check-in countersThai AirAsia check-in and bag drop; the counter closes 60 minutes before departure.
International capabilityThe new terminal is designed for international as well as domestic flights, though scheduled services are domestic only.
New passenger terminal25,500 m², in trial use since February 2026, built to handle up to 1,000 passengers an hour.
Security screeningA single checkpoint to the gate area, with CCTV throughout the new building.
Shuttle vanA privately run van links the airport with Buriram bus station.
TaxisTaxis meet flights, but numbers are limited at peak times.
Nothing matches that search. Try "sim", "wifi", "bag" or "food".
Airport hours
Check-in opens
About 2 hrs before
Check-in closes
60 min before (Thai AirAsia bag drop)
Overnight access
Not suitable
With only a couple of daily rotations, the terminal is busiest around the Thai AirAsia departures. Race weeks bring many extra and private flights and much longer operating days. The terminal is not known to open 24 hours.
Arriving and departing, step by step
Buriram handles domestic scheduled flights, so there is no immigration or customs on arrival. The only thing that slows you down is race week.
Arriving
From the aircraft to Buriram or Surin
1
Into the new terminal
Arriving passengers use the new terminal, opened on a trial basis in February 2026, with signage in Thai and English.
2
Collect your bags
Bags from a single A320 come through quickly on a normal day. In MotoGP week expect longer waits as several flights land close together.
3
Find your transport
Look for the shuttle van to Buriram bus station, a taxi, or your pre-booked driver. Transport outside the terminal can run short at peak times.
4
Drive south
Buriram town and Chang International Circuit are 30 to 40 minutes away; Surin is well over an hour.
Departing
From Satuek to your Don Mueang flight
1
Leave town in good time
Allow 30 to 40 minutes from Buriram, or longer from Surin. In race week, roads around the circuit are congested.
2
Arrive 90 minutes early
Thai AirAsia closes bag drop 60 minutes before departure. In MotoGP week, aim for two hours or more.
3
Check in and drop bags
Check in online, then use the counter for bags.
4
Security and gate
One security checkpoint leads to the gate area. Board when called.
Getting to & from the airport
The airport is in Satuek district, about 34 km north of Buriram town and roughly 75 km from Surin. There is no rail link, and public transport is limited to a privately run van, so most travellers use a taxi or a pre-booked car.
Book a car with a driver on bookingMentor. It is the most reliable way to cover the 34 km into Buriram, the longer run to Surin, or a day at Phanom Rung and Muang Tam, and you avoid the race-week scramble for taxis.
A privately run van connects the airport with Buriram bus station. Ask at arrivals for the next departure and the current fare.
Taxi
Best for: Groups and heavy luggage
Mid-range
To town30 – 40 min
PickupOutside arrivals
PaymentCash, agree fare first
Taxis meet flights, but there are not many of them and they can run out at peak times. There is no published airport tariff, so agree the fare to Buriram or Surin before you set off.
Ride-hailing
Best for: App users staying in town
Mid-range
ServiceGrab
CoverageBuriram town
At the airportLimited
Grab operates in Buriram town and is handy for getting back to the airport. Fewer cars cover Satuek, so do not count on one after a late arrival.
Race-day transport
Best for: MotoGP and circuit events
Budget
WhereBuriram town to the circuit
WhenMajor race weekends
From the airportGet to town first
On major race weekends shuttle services run from Buriram town to Chang International Circuit. No direct service from the airport is known, so travel into town first or pre-book a car.
Security & safety
Buriram Airport is quiet for most of the year. The main risks are transport shortages in race weeks and the long, dark drive to town after an evening arrival.
1Book race-week transport earlyWith more than 120 flights over the 2026 MotoGP fortnight, taxis and vans could not meet demand. Pre-book a car before you fly.
2Agree fares in advanceThere is no published taxi tariff from Satuek. Settle the price to Buriram or Surin before setting off.
3Check border adviceAfter clashes on the Thai–Cambodian border in December 2025, the airport stayed open with round-the-clock security. Check current advice if you plan to visit the southern border districts.
4Carry cashTaxis and the shuttle van expect baht in cash. Withdraw money before leaving Bangkok.
Pro tip: for MotoGP, book the flight, the hotel and the airport transfer together. The flights sell out first, but the drive from Satuek is what catches people out.
The site in Satuek was chosen in 1989 after earlier locations were rejected; it sits inside the Khok Jot forest reserve off Highway 219.
Thai Airways, Phuket Air, PB Air and Nok Air all served Buriram before Thai AirAsia became the sole airline.
The 2026 Grand Prix of Thailand ran from 27 February to 1 March; dates change yearly, so check the MotoGP calendar.
25,500 m², roughly six times the floor area of the old building.
Not on a scheduled flight. The new terminal can handle international traffic, but services are domestic.
No, it is near Buriram town. The extinct volcano has the large Buddha image that symbolises the province.
Types A, B, C, F and O at 220 V.
Not as a regular route. Connect through Don Mueang.
Still looking?
Get an answer from the bookingMentor travel team and travellers who have flown through Buriram Airport.
Sleeping at the airport
Buriram Airport is 34 km from town and has no overnight flights. Sleep in Buriram, not in the terminal.
Rest & relaxation zones
No rest zone details yetFree rest or quiet zones at Buriram Airport are not listed yet.Ask the travel team
Cots for sleeping
No cot details yetCot details for stranded travellers are not listed here yet. Your airline's desk is the first place to ask.Ask the travel team
Sleep pods, day rooms & transit hotel
There are no hotels at the airport. Most places to stay are in Buriram town, near Chang Arena and the circuit; in MotoGP week they sell out months ahead.
Hotels near the airport
No hotels near Buriram Airport are listed yetSearch hotels for your dates in the airport's area instead.Search hotels
Layover sightseeing
Buriram's sights are spread out. Chang International Circuit and Chang Arena are on the edge of town, Khao Kradong is close by, while Phanom Rung and Muang Tam are a long drive south.
No sights listed near Buriram yetBrowse attractions on bookingMentor to plan a long layover.Browse attractions
Layover planner
Tell us how long you have and whether you can leave the secure area.
How long is your layover?
Immigration, security and Buriram traffic are already factored in.
Everything travellers ask before flying through Buriram. Checked against Department of Airports announcements, airline information and national news, October 2026.
Getting there
About 34 km. The airport is in Satuek district to the north, and the drive takes roughly 30 to 40 minutes.
The circuit is on the edge of Buriram town, so allow about the same as the trip into town, 30 to 40 minutes, and longer on race days.
Thai AirAsia, to Bangkok Don Mueang. Nok Air stopped flying here in 2024, and Thai AirAsia's Suvarnabhumi service is currently suspended.
A private shuttle van runs between the airport and Buriram bus station, and taxis meet flights. Supply is thin at peak times, so a car with driver booked on bookingMentor is the dependable option.
Grab operates in Buriram town, but cars are far fewer this far out. Do not rely on getting one after the last flight or in race week.
Yes. Surin is roughly 75 km away by road, so plan on a drive of more than an hour; a pre-booked car is the simplest way.
Ninety minutes on a normal day, as Thai AirAsia closes bag drop 60 minutes before departure. In MotoGP week, allow two hours or more.
We found no published 24-hour operation. The terminal is busy around the scheduled flights and is not somewhere to wait overnight.
We could not confirm any lounge. Most passengers wait in the gate area.
Yes, car rental companies operate at the airport. For the temples in the south of the province, a car with driver from bookingMentor saves you the navigation.
Phanom Rung is in Chaloem Phra Kiat district, in the south of the province, well beyond Buriram town. Allow a full day by car, combined with Muang Tam nearby.
After clashes on the Thai–Cambodian border in December 2025, the airport stayed open with security tightened around the clock. Check the latest travel advice before you go.
General
Not at the moment. Thai AirAsia resumed some Suvarnabhumi routes on 1 October 2026 but kept Buriram at Don Mueang, so allow time to cross Bangkok if you arrive internationally at Suvarnabhumi.
Timing & weather
Yes. The Department of Airports began using the new 25,500 m² terminal on a trial basis on 6 February 2026, ahead of MotoGP, with a formal opening expected later in the year.
What's included
Yes. For the 2026 Grand Prix (27 February to 1 March) more than 120 flights, including extra, private and special services, were planned between 18 February and 2 March. Book early, as fares rise quickly.
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