--- iata: CNX name: Chiang Mai International Airport city: Chiang Mai country: Thailand lastUpdated: '2026-09-07' officialWebsite: 'https://chiangmai.airportthai.co.th/' sources: - 'https://chiangmai.airportthai.co.th/' - 'https://chiangmai.airportthai.co.th/service/transportation/detail/139' - 'https://aip.caat.or.th/2025-08-07-AIRAC/html/eAIP/VT-AD-2.VTCC-en-GB.html' - 'https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chiang_Mai_International_Airport' - 'https://tdac.immigration.go.th/arrival-card/' - 'https://www.prioritypass.com/en-GB/lounges/thailand/chiang-mai-intl' - >- https://www.prioritypass.com/en-GB/lounges/thailand/chiang-mai-intl/cnx1-the-coral-executive-lounge - >- https://www.prioritypass.com/en-GB/lounges/thailand/chiang-mai-intl/cnx-the-coral-executive-lounge - >- https://www.prioritypass.com/en-GB/lounges/thailand/chiang-mai-intl/cnx4-thai-airways-royal-orchid-lounge - 'https://blog.bangkokair.com/en/bangkok-airways-boutique-lounge/' - 'https://blog.bangkokair.com/en/bangkok-airways-blue-ribbon-lounge/' - >- https://www.aci-asiapac.aero/media-centre/news/aot-affirms-global-airport-leadership-with-world-class-hospitality-approach-and-accelerated-infrastructure-development-to-strengthen-national-competitiveness quickFacts: - >- Chiang Mai International Airport (IATA CNX / ICAO VTCC) sits in Suthep subdistrict, Mueang Chiang Mai, roughly 3–5 km southwest of the old-city moat — one of the closest major Thai airports to its city centre. Operator is Airports of Thailand PCL (AOT); passenger site: chiangmai.airportthai.co.th. Owner of the airfield is the Royal Thai Air Force (41st Wing shares the complex) — the passenger campus covered here is the civilian AOT side, not a military skip. - >- One main passenger building with a Domestic wing and an International wing (often just “Domestic Terminal” / “International Terminal” on AOT and Priority Pass pages). Level 1 = arrivals / landside transport; Level 2 = departures. You can walk landside between wings indoors in a few minutes, but there is no sterile domestic↔international airside link — treat a same-day self-connect that changes wings as a full landside transfer with re-screening (and immigration / TDAC on the international leg). - >- Traffic: AOT-sourced calendar 2025 figures compiled on Wikipedia list 9,517,206 passengers (+4.79% vs 9,082,071 in 2024), split ≈6.95M domestic / ≈2.57M international, with 64,124 aircraft movements and 5,413 tonnes freight. Prefer AOT investor traffic tables when the annual PDF publishes; treat 2025 as still below the 2019 peak of ~11.3M. Fourth-busiest AOT airport after BKK / DMK / HKT. Renovation / new-terminal planning aims toward ~20M annual capacity by around 2033 — not open yet. - >- Airfield (CAAT AIP VTCC, Aug 2025 AIRAC cycle): single runway 18/36 — asphalt/concrete about 3,400 × 45 m on the runway-18 takeoff side (TORA / TODA / ASDA 3,400 m; LDA 3,100 m) and 3,100 × 45 m published geometry on runway 36. Aerodrome elevation about 316 m / 1,036 ft. One strip means haze, storms, and Bangkok bank peaks share the same bottleneck. - >- Priority Pass (live Sep 2026 CNX directory — three experiences): The Coral Executive Lounge Domestic (06:00–22:00, 2nd floor near Gate 8, max 3h, PP ~3.6) + The Coral Executive Lounge International (07:00–23:00, 2nd floor next to the VAT refund office, max 3h, PP ~4.2) + Thai Airways Royal Orchid Lounge Domestic (07:30–21:30, 2nd floor opposite Gate 3, max ~2–2.5h, PP ~4.3). Confirm the Priority Pass app / desk on the travel day — traveler reports claim AOT removed some airline lounges from third-party networks in April 2025, even while the PP airport page still lists Thai Airways. - >- Ground: no rail / no metro. AOT-listed RTC Chiang Mai City Bus R3 Red / Yellow loops outside the international landside (flat ฿30 per AOT page; published span commonly ~06:00–23:30). Official airport taxi counters, Grab/Bolt signed pickup, red songthaews on the approach road, and AOT-listed airport shuttle lines A1/A2 (฿40) / A3 (฿60). Old City is often 15–25 minutes by car when traffic cooperates. bentoTips: - label: Timing title: Close to the Old City — still leave slack for haze and Bangkok banks detail: >- CNX is only ~3–5 km from the moat, so off-peak Grab/taxi runs often land in 15–25 minutes. Songkran, Loy Krathong, Chinese New Year inbound banks, and weekday Bangkok departure piles still stack Level 2. Feb–Apr burning- season haze can slow ops and make the airside feel worse than the score suggests. Domestic ~90 minutes early is usually enough; international banks want a full ~2.5–3 hours for TDAC QR, immigration, and security. summary: Short hop on paper; haze season and Bangkok banks still eat buffers. category: timing - label: Terminal title: 'Domestic and international wings — landside walk, no sterile link' detail: >- Facing the building, domestic sits toward the north / right and international toward the south / left on most traveler maps, with a landside indoor connector. Boarding passes and FIDS use Domestic / International labels, not a T1/T2 story like HKT. Same-day domestic→ international connections need landside transfer + CIQ. Screenshot CNX (VTCC) ≠ CEI Chiang Rai. summary: 'One building, two wings; no sterile domestic↔international walk.' category: terminal - label: Food title: Use Coral / airline entitlement before deep airside markup detail: >- Priority Pass holders usually get better value inside Coral Executive (domestic near Gate 8 or international next to VAT refund) than buying à la carte deep airside — watch the 3-hour stay cap and any premium-alcohol extra-payment flags on the international Coral conditions. Bangkok Airways passengers should use the complimentary Boutique Lounge first. Landside sealed water and snacks before security remain the cheap play with no lounge access. summary: >- Coral PP or Bangkok Airways Boutique first; landside sealed water otherwise. category: food lounges: - name: The Coral Executive Lounge (Domestic) zone: >- Airside Domestic Departures, 2nd Floor near Gate 8 (Priority Pass cnx1-the-coral-executive-lounge). hours: '06:00-22:00' access: - Priority Pass / LoungeKey / DragonPass (confirm live PP listing) - 'Walk-in paid (commonly cited ~฿1,200 / 3h — confirm desk)' - Eligible bank / card programmes that route through PP networks bestFor: - Domestic Thai AirAsia / Nok Air / Thai Airways / Bangkok Airways banks - Priority Pass holders on pure domestic itineraries summary: >- Live Priority Pass domestic soft room (PP ~3.6 / 500+ reviews). Hours publish 06:00–22:00 with a maximum 3-hour stay; children under 2 free on PP conditions; complimentary 15-minute shoulder massage subject to availability. Domestic boarding pass required — not a shortcut into the international wing. verdict: worth-it terminal: Domestic Terminal amenities: - Soft seating / Wi-Fi / air conditioning - Standard alcoholic drinks / soft drinks (confirm day-of) - Complimentary 15-minute shoulder massage (subject to availability) - Digital card accepted - name: The Coral Executive Lounge (International) zone: >- Airside International Departure Hall, 2nd Floor next to the VAT refund office (Priority Pass cnx-the-coral-executive-lounge). hours: '07:00-23:00' access: - Priority Pass / LoungeKey / DragonPass (confirm live PP listing) - 'Walk-in paid (commonly cited ~฿1,200 / 3h — confirm desk)' - Eligible bank / card programmes that route through PP networks bestFor: - International departures after immigration / security - >- Priority Pass holders who need a quiet seat before regional / China / Korea / Singapore banks summary: >- Live Priority Pass international soft room (PP ~4.2 / 1,000+ reviews). Hours publish 07:00–23:00 with a maximum 3-hour stay; complimentary alcoholic drinks limited to beer on PP conditions (premium brands may require extra payment); 15-minute shoulder massage subject to availability. Disabled access listed on PP facilities. verdict: worth-it terminal: International Terminal amenities: - Soft seating / Wi-Fi / air conditioning / disabled access - Beer complimentary; premium alcohol may be extra payment - Complimentary 15-minute shoulder massage (subject to availability) - Near VAT refund desk - name: Thai Airways Royal Orchid Lounge (Domestic) zone: >- Airside Domestic Departures, 2nd Floor opposite Gate 3 (Priority Pass cnx4-thai-airways-royal-orchid-lounge). hours: '07:30-21:30' access: - >- Thai Airways / Star Alliance premium cabin and elite entitlements (confirm Thai Airways rules) - >- Listed on the live Priority Pass CNX directory — confirm app / desk acceptance on the travel day (some traveler reports claim AOT removed airline lounges from third-party networks in April 2025) bestFor: - Thai Airways and Star Alliance elites on domestic departures - Priority Pass holders if the desk still accepts the network that day summary: >- Airline soft room opposite Gate 3 with PP-published hours 07:30–21:30 and a ~2–2.5 hour stay cap on the PP conditions page (PP ~4.3). Treat Priority Pass acceptance as confirm-on-the-day; entitlement passengers should still plan on Thai Airways / Star rules rather than aggregator blogs. verdict: depends terminal: Domestic Terminal amenities: - Soft seating / Wi-Fi / air conditioning / disabled access - Soft drinks / televisions (confirm day-of buffet) - Digital card accepted on PP listing - name: Bangkok Airways Boutique Lounge (Domestic) zone: >- Airside Domestic Departures, Level 2 — Bangkok Airways Boutique product (airline blog; not on the live Priority Pass CNX directory). hours: '08:00-19:30' access: - All Bangkok Airways passengers with a same-day PG boarding pass - Guests are not admitted without their own PG ticket (airline FAQ) bestFor: - Every Bangkok Airways passenger including Economy - PG domestic banks toward BKK / USM / other PG spokes summary: >- Complimentary for all Bangkok Airways passengers — the rare “economy gets a lounge” product. Official blog hours for Chiang Mai Boutique: 08:00– 19:30 on Level 2 Domestic Departure. Light snacks / Thai desserts / hot-cold drinks; not a Priority Pass room. Do not burn a PP visit here. verdict: worth-it terminal: Domestic Terminal amenities: - Soft seating / free Wi-Fi / power outlets - Light snacks / Thai desserts / hot and cold beverages - Boarding-pass entitlement only (no guests without PG tickets) - name: Bangkok Airways Blue Ribbon Club Lounge (Domestic) zone: >- Airside Domestic Departures, Level 2 — Bangkok Airways Blue Ribbon Club (airline blog; not on the live Priority Pass CNX directory). hours: '08:00-14:00 and 17:30-19:00' access: - Bangkok Airways Business Class on same-day departures - >- FlyerBonus Premier / Premier Plus (confirm redemption / entitlement rules) - >- Economy upgrade from Boutique historically ~฿950 at CNX / USM / HKT — confirm desk bestFor: - PG Business / FlyerBonus Premier on domestic departures - Paid Boutique→Blue Ribbon upgrades when the bank is open summary: >- Premium Bangkok Airways room with published split banks (morning 08:00–14:00 and evening 17:30–19:00 on the airline Blue Ribbon page) — note the midday gap. Hot meals / massage chairs / showers cited on the airline’s general Blue Ribbon feature list (confirm CNX day-of). Not a Priority Pass product. verdict: depends terminal: Domestic Terminal amenities: - Soft seating / Wi-Fi - Hot meals / snacks when the bank is open (confirm day-of) - >- Massage chairs / showers on airline Blue Ribbon feature list (confirm CNX) waterOptions: - kind: purchase name: Landside sealed water (Domestic / International check-in retail) zone: landside price: Retail shelf price (confirm tag; typically cheaper than deep airside) summary: >- Best-value default before security — buy a sealed bottle at landside convenience retail or cafés in the departure hall of the wing you are actually flying from. location: >- Landside convenience retail and cafés in Domestic or International Level 2 check-in before security / immigration terminal: Domestic / International landside isBestValue: true - kind: purchase name: Airside sealed water / café drinks zone: airside price: Marked-up retail — confirm shelf tag summary: >- Fine once you have cleared security / immigration; poor value if landside shops were still open. Prefer Coral / Boutique / Royal Orchid drinks when you already have entitlement. location: >- Airside cafés and travel retailers beyond security in Domestic or beyond immigration in International terminal: Domestic / International airside - kind: free name: Coral Executive Lounge complimentary drinks (entitlement only) zone: airside summary: >- Water / soft drinks / tea-coffee (and beer on the international Coral PP conditions) inside Coral Executive when your PP / card / walk-in entitlement is accepted — not a public fountain programme. Premium alcohol may cost extra on international Coral conditions. location: >- Inside Coral Executive Domestic (near Gate 8) or International (next to VAT refund) after desk acceptance terminal: Domestic / International airside lounge airportistScore: 7.1 slug: cnx region: Asia-Pacific --- > Markdown for [/airports/cnx](/airports/cnx). Append `.md` to any page URL (or send `Accept: text/markdown`) for an agent-readable copy. - [HTML page](/airports/cnx) - [Lounge directory](/airports/cnx/lounges.md) - [Sitemap](/sitemap.md) # Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) Chiang Mai, Thailand · Asia-Pacific Compact AOT northern Thailand gateway ~3–5 km from the Old City — easy RTC bus and Grab access, two Coral Priority Pass rooms, and a still-aging hall waiting on the ~20M renovation horizon. ## Airportist Score **7.1 / 10** Weighted sum of the six published categories (no holistic fudge). - Ease of use (25%): 7.8 — Wayfinding, security wait, and layout. - Comfort & amenities (20%): 6.2 — Seating, Wi-Fi, cleanliness, and quiet. - Food & retail (15%): 6.0 — Food and retail quality and variety. - Ground access (15%): 9.0 — Transit, taxi, and parking to the city. - Reliability (15%): 6.0 — Delays, cancellations, and weather resilience. - Lounges (10%): 7.2 — Worth-it density and access quality. ## At a glance - Passengers: 9.52M (AOT calendar 2025) - Terminals: 1 building (Domestic + International wings) - Typical security: 16 min - On-time: 74% - Disruption: minor ## Best for - Old City / Nimman leisure trips with a short road transfer - Domestic Bangkok banks on Thai AirAsia, Nok Air, Thai Airways, and Bangkok Airways - Priority Pass holders who can use Coral Domestic or International - Bangkok Airways passengers collecting complimentary Boutique lounge access ## Watch out for - No sterile walk between Domestic and International wings - Feb–Apr burning-season haze that can slow ops and air quality - Single runway 18/36 shared by both wings - TDAC QR mandatory for foreign arrivals since 1 May 2025 ## More intel - [Lounge directory](/airports/cnx/lounges.md) (free) - [Getting there](/airports/cnx/getting-there.md) (free) - [Amenities](/airports/cnx/amenities.md) - [Traveler tips](/airports/cnx/tips.md) - [Water](/airports/cnx/water.md) - [Full guide](/airports/cnx/guide.md) - [Disruptions](/airports/cnx/disruptions.md) - [Reviews](/airports/cnx/reviews.md)