Previously, the Gulf island was accessible only by a large and slow ferry from Thailand’s mainland, or via Bangkok Airways—the airline which previously held a monopoly on the international airport. However, as of March 2015 the Civil Aviation Department has granted approval for Koh Samui Airport to increase its legal fight capacity from 36 to 50 flights per day.
There are now five airlines operating out of Koh Samui’s airport. In addition to Bangkok Airways, passengers can now fly with Thai Airways International, Firefly, Silkair and Lucky Air. Direct domestic flights will be offered from four locations in Thailand, including Bangkok, Phuket, Krabi and Chiang Mai. Direct international flights are offered from both George Town and Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, as well as Kunming, China and Singapore.
When Bangkok Airways was the sole airline operating from Koh Samui, the company was able to charge relatively high amounts, even for short-distance domestic flights to frequently travelled locations like Bangkok and Phuket. Now passengers will be able to enjoy the benefits of supply and demand, with more competitive flight prices.
With more flights to the island with competitive prices, Samui is expected to greatly increase the number of travelers who will choose it as their holiday destination. Locations with holiday-appeal are very attractive to property investors and developers. As tourism has grown over the past two decades to become Thailand’s main source of income as well as a major driving factor behind its rapid development, Samui can anticipate a similar fate.