Don Mueang International Airport stands as one of Thailand's oldest operating aviation hubs. This legendary airfield in Bangkok is globally recognized as one of the oldest international airports still in active service today.
Before the year 2006, this location handled almost all of Bangkok's heavy international traffic under the IATA code BKK. It was a central gateway to Southeast Asia, adapting continuously to the rise of massive jet aircraft and rising tourist demands.
Though it faced temporary closure and major flooding over its long lifespan, the airport proved incredibly resilient. Today, it experiences a vibrant second youth as a major regional hub for budget airlines.
A Century of Rich Aviation History
The story of this landmark began on March 8, 1914, when the first military flights transferred to the newly established airfield. This transition occurred just three years after Thailand sent three brave army officers to France to train as pilots. It officially opened as a Royal Thai Air Force base on March 27, 1914, and remains a joint-use military and civilian facility.
Civil aviation was inaugurated at the airport in 1924 with the arrival of a commercial flight operated by KLM Royal Dutch Airlines. That flight connected Amsterdam and Bangkok, establishing Siam's early links to global trade and tourism.
Throughout the twentieth century, the airfield was a vital strategic theater for multiple historic conflicts. The site witnessed heavy fighting during the Boworadet Rebellion of 1933 and was occupied by the Imperial Japanese Army during World War War II. Later, the United States Air Force utilized the base as a major logistics hub during the Vietnam War.
The Shift to Suvarnabhumi
By the early 2000s, the historic airport could no longer handle the massive influx of passengers and lacked the physical space to expand. Peak traffic in 2004 reached over thirty-eight million passengers, making it the fourteenth-busiest airport in the world. Consequently, Suvarnabhumi Airport opened in September 2006 to fully replace Don Mueang as the main international gateway.
This major shift meant that Don Mueang initially ceased commercial operations on the night of September 27, 2006. The legendary hub handed over its original BKK airport code and was assigned the new code DMK.
However, the complete shutdown of Don Mueang did not last very long due to problems at the new airport. Suvarnabhumi quickly faced high operating costs, cracked taxiways, and severe capacity issues. In response to intense demands from budget carriers, authorities reopened Don Mueang in March 2007.
In 2012, the prime minister ordered budget and charter carriers to relocate to the older airport to relieve congestion at Suvarnabhumi. This policy officially ended the single-airport vision and secured Don Mueang's place in modern travel.
Golfing Between Runways
One of the most extraordinary features of Don Mueang is the full 18-hole Kantarat Golf Course situated directly between the two active runways. This public course was built by the Royal Thai Air Force in 1952 and offers incredibly cheap green fees. Golfers must follow a strict red-light system that pauses play whenever aircraft are landing.
Because there are no fences separating the course from the active runways, golfers must use carts and carry caddies for safety. Flying golf balls could easily strike an outbound passenger jet taking off just yards away.
In addition to its unique sports facility, the hub achieved global fame within the budget travel sector. The CAPA Centre for Aviation ranked it as the busiest low-cost carrier airport in the world in 2016. Millions of tourists pass through its international and domestic terminals annually, seeking affordable flights across Asia.
Even severe natural disasters could not stop this legendary facility for long. During the historic 2011 Thailand floods, the runways were completely submerged under water. Despite looking like a lake in photographs, the airport was fully restored and returned to business early the following year.
