Betong International Airport (BTZ)

Common Complaints

• Lack of Commercial Flights/Low Traffic: The primary and most significant complaint is the near-abandonment of the airport with scheduled flights, notably by Nok Air, being cancelled indefinitely shortly after commencing due to high operational costs and financial non-viability despite initial high load factors.
• Limited Runway Length: The 1,800-m-long runway provides a limited design structure, accommodating smaller aircraft like ATR-72s, Airbus A319s, and Boeing 737s (limiting seats to 80-90 per flight). It also poses challenges for operating direct routes to major hubs. There has been talk of extending it, but this would be costly.
• No Fuelling Facilities: The airport lacks fuelling facilities, which increases operational costs for airlines as turboprop aircraft need to refuel at a third airport for longer routes.
• Economic Non-Feasibility: The airport has been widely described as an "economic white elephant" due to flawed assumptions in public policy regarding visitor demographics, as the majority of visitors to Betong traditionally arrive by road from nearby Malaysian states and southern Thai provinces.
• Limited Amenities (Inferred): Given its small size and lack of consistent commercial operations, the airport offers basic food options (snacks and beverages) and comfortable seating areas, but does not have a dedicated lounge.

Overall, Betong International Airport currently functions as a facility with significant infrastructure but minimal actual passenger traffic. While its modern design and intended capacity are notable, the overarching issue of its economic viability and the absence of regular commercial flights mean that traveler sentiment and detailed experiences are virtually non-existent for the 2024-2025 period, beyond the very recent and limited launch of a single airline. The airport largely remains an underutilized asset.