Bangkok Airways Guide: Routes, Fleet and Safety Record

Bangkok Airways (IATA code PG, ICAO code BKP) is a Thai regional carrier that flies out of Suvarnabhumi Airport and Samui, mixing Airbus jets with ATR 72 turboprops. It owns its own small airports at Samui, Sukhothai and Trat. This guide covers where the airline goes, what it flies, what the cabins and baggage rules look like, how check-in works and what its safety record shows. Prices were checked on 9 October 2026.

Who is Bangkok Airways, and why does it feel different?

Bangkok Airways started in 1968 as Sahakol Air, an air-taxi operator flying staff for oil and gas exploration in the Gulf of Thailand. It began scheduled services in 1986 and took the Bangkok Airways name in 1989, the same year it opened its own airport on Ko Samui (April 1989). It later added Sukhothai (1996) and Trat (March 2003), so it controls the terminal experience at three leisure destinations. The airline is listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand under the ticker BA and is headquartered in Chatuchak, Bangkok.

That history explains the product: the airline grew up serving Gulf of Thailand work crews and then island and provincial airports, and it still owns those airports. Source: Wikipedia, Bangkok Airways, checked 9 October 2026.

Where does Bangkok Airways fly?

Bangkok Airways has two hubs, Bangkok Suvarnabhumi and Samui, and operating bases at Chiang Mai, Hat Yai, Krabi, Phuket and Samui. Its listed network is mostly Thai domestic points, plus a handful of regional destinations such as Singapore, Siem Reap, Luang Prabang and Malé.

Routes change by season, so treat any list as a snapshot. A report from aerotelegraph dated 3 June 2026 says Samui to Singapore and Bangkok to Malé are suspended for the 2026/27 winter schedule, from 25 October 2026 to 28 March 2027. Check the booking page for the exact route and date you want before building a plan around one of the smaller routes.

Two practical points for planning:

• Samui is the airline’s home turf. Samui Airport is owned by Bangkok Airways, so the airline sets the terminal’s character. A 2023 review of a Suvarnabhumi to Samui economy flight describes a flight of about 55 minutes, no jet bridges, and open-air mini-shuttles carrying passengers from remote stands.
• Suvarnabhumi is the main Bangkok departure point. If you arrive in Bangkok on an international flight, see airport to city transfers in Bangkok for the way into town, and the Bangkok transport guide by traveler type for what to do once you are there.

What does the Bangkok Airways fleet look like?

As of August 2025, Wikipedia lists 23 aircraft in service: 11 Airbus A319-100, 2 Airbus A320-200 and 10 ATR 72-600 turboprops, with 12 more ATR 72-600 on order. Fleet counts differ between sources and over time, so use these numbers as a rough scale rather than an exact count.

How the types are used:

• ATR 72-600 turboprops fly the shorter, thinner routes. Examples are Sukhothai and Trat.
• Airbus A319 and A320 jets make up the rest of the fleet. The airline’s first jets arrived in 2000 (Boeing 717), and the A320 joined in 2004.

If you dislike turboprops, check the aircraft type shown during booking. A 2023 review of a Suvarnabhumi to Samui A319 economy flight found the seats comfortable and the cabin well worn.

What fare classes and cabins does Bangkok Airways sell?

Bangkok Airways sells two cabins: Economy and Blue Ribbon Class (its business class). The airline’s own baggage page and check-in guide give the allowance for each cabin. Check the fare rules at booking for change and refund conditions.

Business class (Blue Ribbon Class) differs from economy in two ways confirmed by the airline:

1. A 40 kg checked baggage allowance for adults and children, against 20 kg in economy.
2. Free access to every Blue Ribbon Club lounge (see the lounge section below).

If a lounge and extra baggage are what you want, compare the business fare with an economy fare plus the 950 THB lounge upgrade and prepaid baggage described below.

What are the Bangkok Airways baggage fees and allowances?

Economy passengers get 20 kg of checked baggage per adult or child, and 10 kg per infant. Business passengers get 40 kg for adults and children, and 10 kg for infants. Hand baggage is one bag of up to 56 x 36 x 23 cm and 7 kg.

Prepaid extra baggage is non-refundable. Buy it at least four hours before departure through the call center, a ticketing office or a ticketing agent, or at least two hours before departure online. Check the airline’s baggage page for international sectors and special items, because those are not covered by the domestic prices above.

Keep hand baggage within the 7 kg and 56 x 36 x 23 cm limit.

How do I check in and manage my Bangkok Airways booking?

There are three ways to check in: at the airport counter, on a self-service channel (online or kiosk), or through automatic check-in for domestic flights.

Online check-in and manage booking. Online check-in opens 24 hours before departure and closes 1 hour before, through the website or mobile app. According to a third-party description, Manage Booking on the Bangkok Airways site asks for your booking reference and last name.

Kiosks. Self-service kiosks use the same 24 to 1 hour window and sit at Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, Samui, Krabi, Chiang Mai, Hat Yai and Phuket.

Automatic check-in. For domestic flights only, the airline checks you in 12 hours before departure and emails the boarding pass. FlyerBonus members enable it in their profile; non-members ask the call center on 1771 or +66 2270 6699.

On a tight connection, leave extra time.

Is there a Bangkok Airways lounge, and is it free?

Bangkok Airways runs two lounge tiers. Third-party guides say the Boutique Lounge is free for all passengers, economy included, with snacks, coffee and wifi; the airline’s own pages do not confirm this. The Blue Ribbon Club lounge is the upgraded version: free for business class passengers, and open to economy passengers upgrading from the Boutique Lounge for 950 THB per person at Samui, Phuket and Chiang Mai.

Another way into a Blue Ribbon Club lounge: FlyerBonus Premier and Premier Plus members can redeem 4,000 points.

Hours and the 950 THB price are from the airline’s blog, checked 9 October 2026, and can change.

What is the Bangkok Airways review verdict?

We found one detailed review. A 2023 economy review of the Suvarnabhumi to Samui A319 reports a roughly 55-minute flight with half a tray: a cold sandwich, a dessert, soy milk and water. It also found the cabin well worn and the seats comfortable.

Price-check against other carriers before booking; we have no current fares.

Is Bangkok Airways safe?

Wikipedia documents two major accidents, both on flights to Samui. On 21 November 1990, Flight 125, a DHC-8-103 (Dash 8) flying from Don Mueang to Samui, crashed and all 38 people on board died (33 passengers and 5 crew). The cause is given as spatial disorientation in bad weather during a go-around without visual reference. On 4 August 2009, Flight 266, an ATR 72-500 from Krabi to Samui, ran off the runway on landing and hit an old, unmanned control tower used as a firefighting station. One pilot died; 72 people were on board and 41 were injured. The cause is given as weather (gusts of 25 to 35 knots) and not going around on an unstabilized approach.

Skytrax named Bangkok Airways World’s Best Regional Airline and Best Regional Airline in Asia for 2025, the ninth consecutive year. Skytrax awards come from passenger surveys, not a safety audit.

A fair summary: two accidents decades apart is a limited record, not a clean one. If you are nervous about turboprops or weather at island airports, check the aircraft type at booking and choose a jet if that matters to you.

What does the Bangkok Airways code mean for codeshares?

The two-letter code on tickets and boarding passes is PG. Bangkok Airways codeshares with a long list of international airlines, according to Wikipedia (August 2024), including Air France, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Emirates, Etihad, EVA Air, Finnair, Japan Airlines, KLM, Lufthansa, Malaysia Airlines, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, Swiss, Thai Airways, Turkish Airlines and Vietnam Airlines.

On a through ticket, baggage rules depend on the ticket’s fare conditions, so confirm the allowance for the Bangkok Airways leg before you fly.

See also: Suvarnabhumi airport guide, Bangkok to Koh Samui, Bangkok to Phuket and Thai Airways flights to Bangkok.

Quick answers

Is Bangkok Airways a full-service airline? One 2023 economy review reports a snack and drink on board, and the airline sells Blue Ribbon Class (business).

How much baggage can I bring? 20 kg checked in economy, 40 kg in Blue Ribbon Class, and one hand bag of 7 kg.

When should I check in? Online from 24 hours to 1 hour before departure; airport counters close 40 minutes before a domestic flight.

Where is the airline based? Suvarnabhumi and Samui are the hubs.