Roi Et Airport

Roi Et Airport (ROI) serves the northeastern Thai province of Roi Et from a compact terminal in Thawat Buri District, approximately 20 kilometres south of the city centre. This domestic airport handles scheduled flights from Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport, operated by Thai AirAsia and Nok Air, with a service pattern that reflects the region's role as a quiet agricultural and cultural hub rather than a high-traffic destination.

Getting There

The airport sits on Highway 2044, about 6 kilometres east of the Thawat Buri town centre. From Roi Et city, the journey takes roughly 25 minutes by car or taxi along Route 2044, a well-maintained two-lane road that passes through rice paddies and small villages. Taxis are available at the city's main transport hub near the clock tower, with a fixed price of around 300–400 baht. Alternatively, songthaews (shared pick-up trucks) run irregularly from the Roi Et bus station to Thawat Buri, from where a motorcycle taxi can cover the remaining 6 kilometres for about 60 baht. Driving yourself is straightforward: from Roi Et, head south on Route 2044, follow signs for Thawat Buri, and the airport entrance appears on the left just after a large Buddha statue. Parking is free and ample, with a shaded lot for motorcycles and an open lot for cars.

Inside the Terminal

The single-storey terminal handles both arrivals and departures under one roof. The check-in area has four desks, with two typically operating for AirAsia and Nok Air flights. Baggage storage is available near the entrance — a counter where you can leave luggage for a fee, though hours depend on flight schedules. The security checkpoint is to the left, with a single X-ray machine and walk-through metal detector; lines are short, rarely exceeding 10 minutes. The departure lounge is small, with about 60 seats arranged in rows facing a window overlooking the apron. Vending machines offer drinks and snacks, but there is no full café or restaurant — bring your own food or eat before arriving. The toilet facilities include a wheelchair-accessible toilet and a baby changing table. The entire terminal is wheelchair-accessible, with ramps and wide doorways. The atmosphere is calm and unhurried, with staff who speak limited English but are patient with gesturing. Boarding is announced in Thai and English, and passengers walk across the tarmac to the aircraft — no jet bridges here.

Roi Et Airport and Thawat Buri District

Thawat Buri District is the agricultural heart of Roi Et Province, known for its rice fields, silk weaving, and the massive Phra Maha Chedi Chai Mongkhon at Wat Phra That Phanom (actually located in Nakhon Phanom, but Roi Et has its own notable temples like Wat Burapha with its 59-metre-tall standing Buddha). The district's main draw is the annual Silk and Cotton Festival in February, where local weavers display their intricate ikat patterns. For history buffs, the Ban Sakhon ancient settlement near the airport offers remnants of 14th-century Khmer ruins and a small museum with pottery and tools. The Isan region's hospitality shines in Thawat Buri's night markets, held every Saturday along the main road, serving grilled chicken (gai yang), sticky rice, and papaya salad (som tam) at streetside stalls. The airport's flights are scheduled largely to support these local needs — business travellers from Bangkok, families visiting relatives, and a trickle of tourists heading to nearby attractions like the Phra Maha Chedi Chai Mongkhon or the Roi Et National Museum. The district's pace is slow; a single main street hosts the post office, a 7-Eleven, and a handful of noodle shops. Life revolves around the rice harvest, and the airport's twice-daily flights are a modern convenience in a region where time moves to agricultural rhythms.

Practical Information

The airport is not open 24 hours — it operates only on days with scheduled flights. Currently, flights from Bangkok arrive and depart on Monday through Thursday, with one flight at 6 pm inbound and another at around 7 pm outbound. On Fridays and weekends, the airport is closed, so plan accordingly. The phone number for the airport office is +66 43 518 246, and the website is http://minisite.airports.go.th/roiet/. When leaving, allow just 45 minutes before departure for check-in and security; the terminal is small enough that you won't need more. One concrete tip: if your flight is in the evening, arrive early and walk across the road to the small temple opposite the airport entrance — a peaceful spot to watch the sun set over the rice fields before boarding.