Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) is the main gateway to the northern parts of Thailand. It’s the best airport to fly into to reach Chiang Rai, Pai, Lampang, and the mountains surrounding Chiang Mai, including the country’s highest, Doi Inthanon.
The airport is located 4 kilometers southwest of Chiang Mai's Old City.
Chiang Mai Airport handles both domestic and international flights. It received nearly 10 million passengers in 2025, ranking as the fourth-busiest airport in Thailand.
Major Airlines - Thai AirAsia
Much of the traffic at Chiang Mai Airport is domestic. The most popular airlines are:
Bangkok Airways: Offers direct flights to Bangkok, Koh Samui, and Phuket.
Nok Air: Flies to Bangkok and Udon Thani.
Thai AirAsia: The airline with the most flights and routes at CXN. Flies to both airports in Bangkok and several other Thai cities and islands.
Other primarily domestic airlines include Thai Airways and Thai VietJet Air, both of which fly to Bangkok-Suvarnabhumi (BKK).
The Chiang Mai <-> Bangkok link is the busiest domestic route in Thailand and one of the most-served in the world.
Most international flights to and from Chiang Mai are within Asia. Thailand’s major tourism markets, South Korea and China, have several airlines present at CNX, including Korean Air, Jeju Air, Eastar Jet, China Southern Airlines, Air China, and West Air.
Other large international carriers include EVA Air, Scoot, Malaysia Airlines, and HK Express.
A new route to Abu Dhabi by Etihad is the longest at Chiang Mai and allows connections to hundreds of destinations throughout the world via the major hub in the Gulf.
Terminal Layout and Gates
Chiang Mai Airport has two terminals, but they are within the same building and are often considered one and the same. You can easily walk between them both outside and inside the terminal building, but not airside.
The Domestic Terminal (section) is on the right (north side) while the International Terminal (section) is on the left (south side).
Arrivals and the check-in desks are on the Ground Floor, while Departures and all 10 gates (6 domestic and 4 international) are on the First Floor.
The two terminals have separate Security checkpoints, both of which are on the First Floor, too.
Chiang Mai Airport does not allow for airside transit. If you need to change flights, you need to go through Security to re-enter the Departure Hall.
The airport is open 24/7, though staying airside overnight is frowned upon.
Free Wi-Fi and other services
Chiang Mai Airport provides free Wi-Fi in all public areas. To connect, select “AOT Airport Free Wi-Fi by NT” from the list of available networks, which will automatically open the splash welcome page. You will need to enter your email and accept the terms and conditions.
The connection lasts 60 minutes, after which you just have to repeat the steps above.
A local SIM you can purchase from TRUE, AIS, or dtac - the three mobile network providers in Thailand. All three have counters in the Arrivals hall of either section.
Additional passenger services at CNX include:
ATMs: Most major Thai banks have cash machines in the Arrivals area of both terminals. Note the high withdrawal fees (250-350 THB) that all ATMs charge.
Currency exchange: Available in Arrivals and Departures of the International section. The rates are much better on the landside.
- Luggage storage: Open from 7 AM to 9 PM on the first floor of the Domestic Terminal. The fee is 200 THB per locker per 24 hours.
Pharmacy: One is located landside and open from 7 AM to 5 PM.
Information desks: located on the 1st Floor of Arrivals in the Domestic Terminal.
Lounges at CNX
There are five lounges at Chiang Mai Airport, four in the Domestic section and one in the International section.
The only lounge for international passengers is the Coral Executive Lounge, located airside on the First Floor, next to the VAT refund office. It’s open from 7 AM to 11 PM daily, allowing entry via several options, including the most popular lounge membership passes, special credit cardholders, or by paying 1200 THB at the door.
The lounges for domestic passengers are:
Coral Executive Lounge: An equivalent domestic lounge for all passengers, located near Gate 8 and open from 6 AM to 10 AM daily.
- Bangkok Airways Lounge: Split into two premium spaces next to each other, before Security. Both are open from 8 AM to 2 PM and again from 5:30 PM to 7 PM.
Blue Ribbon Club Lounge for business class passengers and premier members of FlyerBonus, and offers more and better amenities.
Boutique Lounge: A more basic lounge open to all passengers of the airline, including those in Economy.
Thai Airways Royal Orchid Lounge (Royal Silk Lounge): Located opposite Gate 3 and open to all passengers of the airline, though you can also use Priority Pass to enter.
Dining Options at Chiang Mai Airport
There are various cafes, restaurants, bars, and regular eateries both airside and landside at CNX.
It’s better to grab something to eat before you go through Security, though, as choices are much more limited after that.
Getting Thai food at the airport is also pretty easy, as several places serve both Northern specialties (e.g., khao soi) as well as general Thai staples (e.g., pad thai, pad krapao, etc).
If you’d like something familiar, there are McDonald's, Burger King, Starbucks, and Subway, all located landside.
The recommended cafe airside is the Black Canyon Coffee.
Transport to and from the airport
RTC Chiang Mai city offers a public bus service, the R3 line, that loops around the city, linking the airport with some of the most popular places in Chiang Mai, including Pantip Plaza (the Night Bazaar, Anusarn Market, and Tha Pae Gate.
Red R3 buses loop counterclockwise (from the airport towards Wualai Road), while Yellow R3 buses loop clockwise (from the airport towards Far Eastern University). Tickets cost 30 THB, which you can pay the driver upon boarding.
While these buses are cheap, they are not particularly frequent. If you don’t like to wait, you can take a songthaew - red, open-rear pick-up trucks that are the most utilized form of transport in Chiang Mai. The standard fare between the airport and the city center is 40 THB, though the driver may ask for more if you’re alone - usually not higher than 100 THB.
The best transport option if you’re in a hurry or you want maximum comfort is to book a Grab ride. This is the most popular ride-hailing app in Thailand, and you can use its app to get a ride quickly within the city, including CNX. A trip between the airport and the city center costs around 150 THB.
Lastly, traditional taxis form a rank directly outside of Arrivals. An attendant will point you to the next available car. Fares to anywhere in the historic center are set at 150 THB. From the city back to the airport, it’s usually best to use the meter rather than to negotiate with the driver.
Find out the best things to do in Chiang Mai.
Hotels near Chiang Mai Airport
Chiang Mai Airport is within a very urbanized area. This means there are many hotels and guesthouses within ten minutes of driving of the terminal.
One of the closest large hotels to CNX is The Airport Greenery Hotel, located just 1.3 km from the terminals. It’s a standard budget hotel with minimal amenities, but most reviews are positive for its location and the quality of its rooms.
For a more upscale hotel, check out The Grand Chaiyapruek Nimman Hotel, which is about 1.4 km north of the terminals.
Most travelers simply stay in the Old City or the Nimman area northwest of the central parts. If you’d like to check out more hotels in Chiang Mai, click here.
Chiang Mai, Thailand
