International air travelers are still getting confused about Bangkok’s two airports. Suvanaphumi, the new multi billion Baht airport, handles all international flights in and out of the city in addition to domestic flights. Don Muang Airport handles only domestic flights.

Some passengers are arriving at Suvanaphumi – which is south of the city - with connecting flights leaving from Don Muang, which is north of the city. Some of this is blamed on travel agents who aren’t paying attention or those buying tickets on the Internet and thought they were getting better deals by buying connecting flights on the web, but not understanding that the airports are miles apart and you need at least three hours to make connections.

Other confusion was caused because the airport code for Don Muang was BKK. That code was given to Suvanaphumi when it opened. Don Muang now has the code DMK.

The Thai government approved re-opening of the Don Muang International airport as the second Bangkok airport on March 25th, 2007. The nearly century-old Don Muang airport was one of Asia's busiest hubs until it was closed in September 2006, following the opening of Suvarnabhumi. Sadly there were major problems with the new airport and it was unable to handle the traffic. There is still major work to be completed and it seems that Don Muang will remain as a second airport for the city. It is estimated that more than 20.000 passengers daily are using that airport now.

Airlines using Don Muang are Thai Airways International, Nok Air, Orient Thai Airlines, and One-Two-GO arilines. Routes served out of Don Muang include Chiang Mai, Hat Yai, Phuket, Udon Thani, Krabi, Chiang Rai, Phitsanulok, and Khon Kaen.