• Bangkok Don Muang
• Bangkok Suvarnabhumi
• Beijing
• Chiang Mai
• Hong Kong
• Kuala Lumpur
• Phuket
• Samui
• Singapore
• Tokyo Haneda
• Tokyo Narita
• U-Taphao

Bangkok Don Muang Airport  (DMK/VTBD)

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Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK/VTBS)

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Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX/VTCC)

General info: Chiang Mai is the second largest city of Thailand and gateway to the north of the country. There is a fierce competition on the Bangkok-Chiang Mai route, with many daily flights and low air fares.

Runway layout: 18/36; 10,300 ft (3100m).

Base of:

Spotting: The terminal building offers good photo possibilities from the airside. On the landside, there are roads along almost the complete perimeter and many good locations for taking pictures.

Frequencies: ATIS 127.50, Approach 129.60, Tower 118.10, Ground 121.90

Website: www.airportthai.co.th

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U-Taphao - Pattaya Airport  (UTP/VTBU)

General info: U-Taphao (also spelled Utaphao, U-Tapao or Utapao) is owned by the Royal Thai Navy. Its runway was extended in the 1960's to support the US war efforts in the region, and UTP served as base for B-52 bombers and KC-135 tankers. Nowadays various squadrons are based at UTP including AV-8A Harriers of the RTN. The only scheduled civil operator is Bangkok Airways, connecting UTP twice daily with Samui and once per day with Phuket, using an ATR 72. Charters are flown mainly from Russia by Siberia Airlines and Transaero, Korean Air from Seoul and Finnair from Helsinki for tourists going to the nearby beach resort of Pattaya.

Runway layout: 18/36; 11,500 ft (3500m)

Base of: Thai Airways has a maintenance base at UTP for its own aircraft and other airlines.

Spotting: As UTP is military, it is strictly forbidden to take photographs, including from the terminal building. It's advisable to adhere to this rule.

Frequencies: Approach 119.70, Tower 118.30

Website: www.utapao.com

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Phuket International Airport  (HKT/VTSP)

General info: Phuket is one of Thailand's main tourist destinations and as such the island's airport plays a very important role. There are many daily flights from and to Bangkok and other domestic destinations, and also a growing number of international ones. Especially during the peak season (December and January) many direct charter flights are operated from Europe and Australia. Also a large number of Russian aircraft can be seen here.

Runway layout: 09/27; 10,300ft (3100m)

Base of:

Spotting: As the airport is located on the western shore in the northern side of the island and the runway is east-west, great pictures can be taken standing near the threshold of Rwy 09. Good airside pictures are possible too. Security personnel generally will pose no problem, as long as you collaborate with them when asked.

Frequencies: ATIS 128.00, Approach 124.70, Tower 118.10, Ground 121.90

Website: www.airportthai.co.th

Other links:

Phuket Airport Hotel (Beautiful Sand Resort)

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Koh Samui - Samui Airport (USM/VTSM)

General info: Samui must be one of the prettiest little airports in the world, and also one of the best for aircraft spotting, although the traffic is limited mainly to Bangkok Airways flights. Samui is a Bangkok Airways (PG) hub and "Asia's Boutique Airline" offers flights from here to Bangkok (up to 15 a day), Chiang Mai, Phuket, Krabi, U-Taphao, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Hong Kong. The flights are operated by ATR 72's and Boeing 717's.

Runway layout: 17/35; 6800ft (2050m)

Base of: Bangkok Airways

Spotting: Runway 17's approach path leads over the Big Buddha temple, in the north of the island, while the approach to runway 35 is over Chaweng Beach. Good photographs can be taken from both spots, but the best shots are made from the airport itself. The runway is separated from the terminal area by a low hedge and security allows you to stand right next to it, which is at the threshold of runway 17, from where you can get excellent close-up shots of planes taxiing for take-off and lining up and landing on 17.

Click here to see pictures taken at Samui

Frequencies: ATIS 128.60, Approach 129.60, Tower 118.90

Website: www.bangkokair.com

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Kuala Lumpur International - KLIA  (KUL/WMKK)

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Singapore - Changi  (SIN/WSSS)

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Beijing - Capital  (PEK/ZBAA)

General info: The Chinese capital's airport is the busiest airport in China in terms of aircraft movements, mainly due to the large number of domestic flights operated by narrow-body aircraft. There are two terminals, while a third terminal, a third runway and a rail link with the city centre are under construction and scheduled to be completed before the 2008 Olympic Games.

Runway layout: 18L/36R 12,500ft (3800m); 18R/36L 10,500 (3200m)

Base of: Air China, China Xinhua Airlines

Spotting: There are two good spotting locations near the threshold of runway 36L.

Website: www.bcia.com.cn

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Hong Kong - Chek Lap Kok  (HKG)

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Tokyo Haneda (HND)

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Tokyo Narita - New Tokyo International (NRT)

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Satellite images from Google Earth