{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Airport",
  "address": {
    "@type": "PostalAddress",
    "addressCountry": "Thailand",
    "addressLocality": "Na Thon (Ko Samui Island)"
  },
  "airlines": [
    "Singapore Airlines",
    "Bangkok Airways",
    "Firefly",
    "Thai Airways International",
    "SilkAir"
  ],
  "amenityFeature": [
    {
      "@type": "LocationFeatureSpecification",
      "name": "Domestic to Domestic Connection Time",
      "value": "45 minutes"
    },
    {
      "@type": "LocationFeatureSpecification",
      "name": "Domestic to International Connection Time",
      "value": "60 minutes"
    },
    {
      "@type": "LocationFeatureSpecification",
      "name": "International to Domestic Connection Time",
      "value": "60 minutes"
    },
    {
      "@type": "LocationFeatureSpecification",
      "name": "International to International Connection Time",
      "value": "90 minutes"
    },
    {
      "@type": "LocationFeatureSpecification",
      "name": "Interline Connection Time",
      "value": "120 minutes"
    }
  ],
  "city": "Na Thon (Ko Samui Island)",
  "code": "USM",
  "connection_tips": "Samui Airport (USM), often hailed as one of the most beautiful and unique airports in the world, is a privately owned facility by Bangkok Airways that serves as the primary gateway to the tropical paradise of Koh Samui. Always allow for extra time during the monsoon season (October to December), as heavy rains can occasionally lead to short-term flight delays. If you are traveling on separate tickets, ensure you have enough time to collect your luggage and re-check it, as there is no airside transfer between unrelated bookings. The airport also features a small 'Samui Park Avenue' shopping and dining area just outside the terminal, perfect for a last-minute souvenir or a final Thai meal before departure.\n\nThe airport is located just a few kilometers north of the popular Chaweng Beach area, making it very accessible. Its distinctive open-air design, featuring thatched-roof terminals and lush garden surroundings, offers a seamless transition from the island's resort atmosphere to your flight. Travelers connecting through USM should be aware that because it is a private airport, almost all flights are operated by Bangkok Airways, which provides a 'boutique' experience including a complimentary lounge with snacks and drinks for all passengers.\n\nFor those connecting between domestic and international flights, the two terminals are located within a short, pleasant walk of each other. For ground transportation, the 'SmackONE' taxi service is the official provider, offering fixed rates to various parts of the island, while shared minivans provide a more economical choice for solo travelers. It is important to note that while ride-hailing apps like Grab are popular in Thailand, they are generally restricted from picking up passengers within the immediate airport grounds, though they can drop you off.",
  "country": "Thailand",
  "flag_url": "https://flagcdn.com/w320/th.png",
  "flight_search_affiliate_link": "https://book.beatthatflight.com.au/?currency=THB",
  "frequent_traveler_tip": [
    "Open-air terminals can be humid at this airport.",
    "Lounges near Gate 2 offer free cold drinks and Wi-Fi for early-arriving passengers.",
    "Check your flight status before leaving for the airport.",
    "Allow extra time during peak travel periods at this airport.",
    "Keep important documents easily accessible at this airport."
  ],
  "global_map_link": "https://www.google.com/maps?q=Samui%20Airport",
  "google_maps_reviews": {
    "rating": 0.0,
    "recent_reviews": [],
    "total_reviews": 0
  },
  "has_commercial_service": true,
  "hotel_affiliate_link": "https://book.beatthatflight.com.au/?currency=THB",
  "iataCode": "USM",
  "icao": "VTSM",
  "international": true,
  "last_modified": "July 2026",
  "last_updated": "2026-03-30",
  "latitude": 9.54779,
  "layover_planner_info": "Samui Airport (USM) can work for planned transfers, but give yourself more than the bare minimum if checked bags, immigration, or terminal changes are involved. Use this page's published MCTs as the floor: 45 minutes for domestic transfers, 60 minutes for domestic-to-international connections, 90 minutes for international-to-international transfers, 120 minutes when interline support is available. For longer stops in Na Thon (Ko Samui Island), assume terminal amenities may be secondary to the surrounding landside area, and keep backup routing through Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) and Chumphon Airport (CJM) in mind if the day starts to slip.",
  "longitude": 100.061996,
  "mct_domestic_to_domestic": 45,
  "mct_domestic_to_international": 60,
  "mct_interline": 120,
  "mct_international_to_domestic": 60,
  "mct_international_to_international": 90,
  "missed_connection_help": "If you miss a connection at Samui Airport (USM), start with the operating airline or transfer desk before leaving the secure area, especially if bags are checked through or your itinerary relies on interline handling. This airport publishes a 120-minute interline buffer, so ask staff to confirm whether onward sectors and baggage can be protected on the same journey before you commit to a new ticket. If same-day recovery fails, compare rebooking options via Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) and Chumphon Airport (CJM).",
  "name": "Samui Airport",
  "noindex": false,
  "region": "Asia",
  "related_airports": [
    {
      "code": "BKK",
      "name": "Suvarnabhumi Airport"
    },
    {
      "code": "CJM",
      "name": "Chumphon Airport"
    },
    {
      "code": "NST",
      "name": "Nakhon Si Thammarat Airport"
    }
  ],
  "terminal_info": "Samui Airport (USM/VTSM) operates as Thailand's most distinctive privately-owned international airport, strategically located on Ko Samui island's Bo Phut subdistrict approximately 2 kilometers north of the popular Chaweng resort area. Built by Bangkok Airways with construction beginning in 1982 and official opening in April 1989, this unique facility represents one of Asia's few privately-owned international airports, giving Bangkok Airways a near-monopoly on flight operations with their A319s and ATR72s comprising approximately 90% of all traffic. The airport's revolutionary open-air design earned international recognition as 'the world's most beautiful airport,' featuring award-winning tropical resort architecture that harmoniously blends modern aviation infrastructure with traditional Thai aesthetics and environmental sensitivity.\n\nTerminal facilities showcase groundbreaking tropical resort design philosophy, featuring six terminals (four domestic, two international) completed during a 500 million baht expansion program in 2007 that increased daily capacity to 16,000 passengers and annual capacity from 1.3 million to 6 million passengers. The distinctive architecture incorporates thatched roofs, palm-tree pillars, wooden and rattan walls arranged in an open-air layout that seamlessly integrates with the surrounding coconut plantation environment. Indoor areas are limited to essential services including gift shops, ticket offices, restrooms, and VIP lounges, while most passenger areas remain open to tropical breezes, creating an unprecedented airport experience that feels more like a luxury resort than a transportation hub.\n\nOperational characteristics reflect the airport's role as Thailand's seventh-busiest facility processing over one million passengers annually, primarily tourists visiting Ko Samui's world-renowned beaches, luxury resorts, and spa destinations. Bangkok Airways' dominant position enables highly coordinated flight schedules connecting Ko Samui to Bangkok, Singapore, Hong Kong, and other major Asian destinations, while maintaining service levels appropriate for the island's affluent tourism market. The facility's environmental design principles include natural ventilation systems, solar energy integration, and landscaping that preserves existing vegetation, demonstrating that major aviation infrastructure can achieve both aesthetic excellence and environmental responsibility.\n\nGround transportation connections serve Ko Samui's extensive resort and tourism infrastructure, with the airport's central location providing convenient access to luxury accommodations scattered across the island's coastline. The facility's success as a privately-operated airport has influenced airport development throughout Southeast Asia, proving that innovative design and environmental sensitivity can create commercially successful aviation facilities while enhancing rather than detracting from destination appeal. Emergency and specialized services coordinate with island healthcare facilities and mainland evacuation capabilities, ensuring comprehensive support for the high-volume international tourism that sustains Ko Samui's economy and establishes this airport as a global model for sustainable, beautiful aviation infrastructure.",
  "terminal_map_url": "https://www.worlddata.info/asia/thailand/airports.php"
}