Krabi International Airport Guide (KBV)

By the bookingMentor Travel Desk · Updated October 22, 2026 · How we research

Krabi is a regional airport that has grown fast, and the 2025 expansion changed how it works inside. This section covers the lounges, WiFi, charging, food and what an overnight wait is really like.

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What to expect

Krabi International Airport (KBV) is the airport for Krabi province on Thailand's Andaman coast, in Nuea Khlong district about 10 km north-east of Krabi Town. It is the arrival point for Ao Nang, Railay, Koh Lanta and the islands of Phang Nga Bay, and it suits beach travellers flying in from Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, India, the Gulf and, in winter, northern Europe. Thailand's Department of Airports operates it, and Thai AirAsia keeps an operating base here.

Krabi Airport passenger numbers since it opened in 1999

Krabi opened on 10 July 1999 with a terminal designed for about 3 million passengers a year, a figure the airport outgrew within fifteen years. Traffic rose from 1.19 million passengers in 2012 to a peak of 4.34 million in 2017, fell to 405,432 in 2021, and recovered to 3,053,553 in 2025. Of that 2025 total, 2,289,137 travelled domestically and 764,416 internationally, across 22,718 aircraft movements.

Krabi terminal changes, 2025–26: a new domestic passenger building, Terminal 3, opened after a soft launch on 26 September 2025, and Terminals 1 and 2 were renovated as part of the same project of nearly four billion baht. All passengers now enter through Terminal 1 and check in at Zone A or B on the third floor; international departures use Gates 1 to 7 and domestic departures Gates 8 to 14. Signs and older guides may still describe the previous layout.

Growth on that scale explains the building work of the past few years. The government approved a budget for a third terminal, renovation of the two older buildings, a larger car park, more aircraft stands and electrical upgrades, with the aim of doubling yearly capacity to around 8 million passengers. The site is hemmed in by roads and housing, so this phase is expected to be the last major expansion at Krabi. A separate airport for Phang Nga and the Andaman coast has been proposed to take future growth.

Check-in at Terminal 1 and the gates for each flight type

All departing passengers now enter through Terminal 1 and check in on its third floor, whatever their destination. Terminal 3, the new domestic building, had its soft launch on 26 September 2025 as part of a project worth nearly four billion baht. International flights board from Gates 1 to 7 and domestic flights from Gates 8 to 14.

Check-in is split into Zone A and Zone B, and passengers with hand luggage only can use self-service kiosks on the same floor. International travellers clear passport control after security. Older blog posts and some signs still describe the pre-2025 layout, so follow the screens in Terminal 1 on the day. The terminal itself stays open around the clock, though most flights operate between early morning and late evening.

Which airlines fly from Krabi to Bangkok and abroad

Bangkok is the main link, with several flights an hour at busy times. Thai Airways, Bangkok Airways, Thai AirAsia and Thai Vietjet fly to Suvarnabhumi, while Thai AirAsia, Nok Air and Thai Lion Air serve Don Mueang. Thai AirAsia also flies to Chiang Mai, and Bangkok Airways connects Krabi with Koh Samui, which saves a long road and ferry trip across the peninsula.

International routes are mostly short and regional. AirAsia and Firefly fly to Kuala Lumpur and Scoot to Singapore. IndiGo links Krabi with India, flydubai flies to Dubai and Air Arabia to Sharjah. From November to April, scheduled and charter flights arrive from Scandinavia, Finland and Central Europe, including Finnair from Helsinki, TUI fly Nordic from Gothenburg and Oslo, and Neos and LOT charters from Warsaw and Prague. Seasonal schedules change every year, so confirm the dates with the airline before planning around them.

Krabi's runway, wide-body jets and 24-hour operations

Krabi has a single runway, 14/32, 3,000 m long and 45 m wide, which is long enough for wide-body jets on the Gulf and European routes. The airfield sits about 25 to 28 m above sea level, and its fire and rescue cover is rated Category 9, the level needed for large long-haul aircraft. Air traffic control, security and fuelling run 24 hours. Thailand's aeronautical publication lists customs and immigration from 08:30 to 16:30 local time or on demand, which in practice means late international arrivals are processed when the flight lands.

WiFi, ATMs, car rental and food at KBV

Facilities match a busy regional airport. Free WiFi covers the terminal, Thai bank ATMs are in both halls, and car rental counters, including National, are in arrivals. A money exchange counter and a tourist information desk operate during the day. First aid is available at the airport, with hospitals in Krabi Town for anything more serious.

Food is the weak point. A handful of cafés and a small shop close around 20:00, so a late departure means eating in Ao Nang or Krabi Town before you leave. Bangkok Airways runs its Boutique Lounge airside in domestic departures, free for all its passengers, and Thai Airways premium passengers and Star Alliance Gold members have lounge access. There is no lounge that takes walk-in payment.

Hotels near Krabi Airport for late arrivals and early flights

Most visitors base themselves in Ao Nang or Krabi Town and never need an airport hotel. For a midnight arrival or a 06:00 departure, a few small hotels sit within 4 to 6 km of the terminal, including Palmari Boutique Hotel, Numjaan Resort and Wanarom Residence Hotel. There is no transit hotel and no sleep area inside, and the arrivals hall is the usual spot for anyone waiting overnight.

High season at KBV and how early to get to the airport

The high season runs from November to April, when the European flights operate, the sea is calm for the boats to Railay and the islands, and check-in queues are at their longest. Allow two hours before a domestic flight and three before an international one. From Ao Nang, budget about an hour for the road, more if you take the airport bus, which stops at hotels on the way. Between May and October the south-west monsoon brings rough seas, fewer flights and lower fares.

Landside and airside

Landside is the public part of the terminal: the third-floor check-in zones, the arrivals hall with its bus and taxi booths, and the car rental counters. Airside begins at security; international passengers also clear passport control before reaching Gates 1 to 7.