IATA · DMKBangkok · Thailand

Don Mueang Airport

Don Mueang International Airport (DMK) is Bangkok's second airport and the world's largest low-cost-carrier hub. It sits about 24 km north of the city centre and handled roughly 30.5 million passengers in 2024, with Terminal 1 for international flights and Terminal 2 for domestic services across Thailand and the region.

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In numbers

Don Mueang Airport at a glance

Official name
Don Mueang International
IATA / ICAO
DMK / VTBD
Operator
Airports of Thailand (AoT)
Terminals
T1 international, T2 domestic
To city centre
24 km, about 30-60 min
Opened
27 March 1914
Elevation
3 m above sea level
Runways
Two parallel, 3,700 m and 3,500 m
Transport and services

Leaving Don Mueang Airport

The airport is north of the city, and traffic on Vibhavadi Rangsit Road is unpredictable, so plan the transfer before you land. Compare the main ways to reach central Bangkok.

Cheapest

SRT Dark Red Line

A covered walkway links the terminal to Don Mueang station. Trains reach Krung Thep Aphiwat (Bang Sue) in about 18 minutes for ฿33, with an MRT Blue Line transfer there.

See transport →Most flexible

Car rental

Desks in Terminal 2 arrivals from a dozen companies, with no-deposit models and free cancellation. Bangkok is Thailand's cheapest rental market, from about ฿600/day.

See the deals →

Taxi & transfer

Metered airport taxis run ฿350-575 all-in to the centre, plus a ฿50 airport surcharge and tolls. Private transfers from about ฿585.

Fares and options →

Parking

Short-term and daily car parks by the terminals, with the first 15 minutes free and a daily rate of ฿250. Handy for drop-offs and pick-ups.

See tariffs →
Live flight board

Live flights at Don Mueang Airport

Follow arrivals and departures at Don Mueang Airport in real time. Data is provided by Avionio and updated continuously; smaller airports show only a handful of flights, which is normal.

Open the dedicated pages: Arrivals and Departures for Don Mueang Airport.

About Don Mueang Airport

Don Mueang opened on 27 March 1914 and is one of the world's oldest airports still in operation, commonly cited as the oldest operating airport in Asia. It was Bangkok's sole international gateway for decades, until Suvarnabhumi opened in 2006, then reopened in 2007 to take low-cost traffic and has grown ever since.

Today Don Mueang is Thailand's second-busiest airport after Suvarnabhumi and, since 2015, recognised as the world's largest airport dedicated to low-cost carriers. It is the home base of Nok Air, Thai AirAsia, Thai AirAsia X and Thai Lion Air, with Terminal 1 handling international flights and Terminal 2 the domestic network.

The land is owned by the Royal Thai Air Force, and the airport shares its site with RTAF Wing 6. Two parallel runways, about 3,700 m and 3,500 m, handle the traffic, and a Terminal 3 expansion is planned for the end of the decade. Airlines operating at the airport include:

  • Thai AirAsia
  • AirAsia
  • Thai AirAsia X
  • Nok Air
  • Thai Lion Air
  • Scoot
  • Batik Air Malaysia
  • Indonesia AirAsia
  • Philippines AirAsia
  • Jeju Air
  • Spring Airlines
Don Mueang International Airport terminal frontage in Bangkok
Two terminals sit 24 km north of central Bangkok on the old Vibhavadi corridor.

How to get from Don Mueang Airport to Bangkok

Central Bangkok lies about 24 km south of Don Mueang, roughly 30 minutes by rail but 45 to 90 minutes by road in traffic. Unlike Suvarnabhumi's Airport Rail Link, Don Mueang is served by the SRT Dark Red Line commuter train, plus airport buses, taxis and rental cars. Prices in baht vary widely by comfort.

ModeDestinationDurationPriceFrequency
SRT Dark Red LineBang Sue / Krung Thep Aphiwatabout 18 min฿33every 10-15 min
Metered taxiCentral Bangkokabout 45 min฿350-575on demand
A1 busMo Chit / BTSabout 30 min฿30frequent
A4 busKhao San Roadabout 50 min฿50frequent
Car rentalAll Bangkokimmediatefrom ฿600/dayterminal desks

The SRT Dark Red Line is the fastest, cheapest way into town at ฿33, avoiding road traffic entirely, then connects to the MRT Blue Line at Bang Sue. For door-to-door travel, a metered taxi or private transfer is simplest, while a rental car makes sense if you plan to drive to Ayutthaya, Pattaya or beyond.

SRT Dark Red Line train at Don Mueang station
A covered walkway links Terminal 1 to Don Mueang station on the Dark Red Line.

Terminals and services

Don Mueang has two terminals linked by a walkway. Terminal 1 handles all international flights, while Terminal 2 serves the domestic network of Thai AirAsia, Nok Air, Thai Lion Air and others. Car rental and transfer desks sit in Terminal 2 arrivals, between Gates 10 and 11.

As a low-cost hub the airport can be busy at the fringes of the day, when many budget flights are scheduled, so allow time at check-in and security. A free shuttle bus links Don Mueang with Suvarnabhumi for transit passengers holding a same-day connecting ticket.

  • Free airport WiFi throughout both terminals
  • Duty-free, food courts and 24-hour Thai eateries
  • Car rental and transfer desks in Terminal 2 arrivals
  • ATMs, currency exchange and SIM-card counters
  • Free inter-airport shuttle to Suvarnabhumi for transit passengers

For a departure from Don Mueang, arrive about 2 hours before a domestic flight and 3 hours before an international one: budget carriers cluster their schedules, and security queues at Terminal 1 build quickly at peak times.

Check-in hall inside Don Mueang Airport Terminal 1
Terminal 1 handles international flights; Terminal 2 covers the domestic network.

Parking at Don Mueang Airport

Short-term and daily car parks sit right by the terminals, with 15 free minutes for drop-offs and a daily rate of ฿250 from December 2025. Useful if you are collecting arriving friends or family.

See parking tariffs

Explore Thailand by car

From the temples of Ayutthaya to the beaches of Pattaya and Hua Hin, a rental car picked up at Don Mueang lets you leave Bangkok at your own pace. It is Thailand's cheapest rental market, from about ฿600/day.

Discover car rental

Don Mueang Airport: common questions

Where is Don Mueang Airport?

Don Mueang International Airport (DMK) is about 24 km north of central Bangkok. The SRT Dark Red Line links the terminal to Bang Sue in around 18 minutes for ฿33, and metered taxis, airport buses and rental cars all serve the city from the terminals.

How do I get from Don Mueang Airport to the city?

The SRT Dark Red Line reaches Krung Thep Aphiwat (Bang Sue) in about 18 minutes for ฿33, with an MRT transfer there. A metered taxi to central Bangkok costs about ฿350 to ฿575 all-in, and airport buses A1 to A4 run to Mo Chit, Victory Monument and Khao San for ฿30 to ฿50.

How much is a taxi from Don Mueang Airport?

A metered taxi from Don Mueang to central Bangkok runs about ฿200 to ฿350 on the meter, plus a ฿50 airport surcharge and roughly ฿70 in tolls, so a realistic all-in fare is ฿350 to ฿575 for the 30 to 60 minute trip. A pre-booked private transfer starts from about ฿585.

Can I rent a car at Don Mueang Airport?

Yes, around a dozen companies have desks in Terminal 2 arrivals, with rates from about ฿600 a day and no-deposit options. Bangkok is Thailand's cheapest rental market, but you need an International Driving Permit to drive legally in Thailand.

Is there a free shuttle between Don Mueang and Suvarnabhumi?

Yes. A free shuttle bus links Don Mueang and Suvarnabhumi for transit passengers holding a same-day connecting flight, on showing a boarding pass and passport. It leaves from Terminal 1, first floor, Gate 6, roughly every half hour, and the trip takes about 50 minutes.

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