🇹🇭 Betong International Airport

Betong International Airport (IATA: BTZ, ICAO: VTSY) is a public airport located in Yarom subdistrict, Betong district, Yala province, southern Thailand. It is owned and operated by the Department of Airports.

Notable Features and History:

• The airport covers an area of 1.47 million sq. meters (15,800,000 sq. ft.) and cost 1.9 billion baht to build.
• Construction began in December 2017 and it officially opened on March 14, 2022, after delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• It features a 7,000 sq. meter passenger terminal capable of handling over 300 passengers per peak hour and 300,000 passengers annually.
• The airport has a single concrete runway, 07/25, which is 1,800 meters (5,906 ft) long. There are plans to expand the runway to 2,100 meters to accommodate larger aircraft like the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737.
• Its mountainous location and proximity to the Malaysian border are notable geographical features.

Current Status:

• As of 2023, Betong Airport is largely underutilized, handling only 728 passengers in the previous year, averaging about two passengers per day.
• The 1,800-meter runway restricts operations to smaller turboprop aircraft such as the ATR 72 or Q400, which typically carry 70-80 passengers.
• Nok Air previously operated the Don Mueang–Betong route but suspended services due to low passenger numbers. Currently, Ezy Airlines operates flights between Hat Yai and Betong using small Cessna aircraft with 10-12 seats.
• There are calls to revitalize the airport, with suggestions including extending the runway or providing state subsidies to reduce airfares.

*Sources researched: en.wikipedia.org, bangkokpost.com, flightradar24.com, thailand-construction.com, centreforaviation.com*