The Thai Department of Airports has engaged Bangkok Airways (PG, Bangkok Suvarnabhumi) and Nok Air (DD, Bangkok Don Mueang) over the launch of flights to the new airport in Betong, scheduled to open in mid-2020, The Bangkok Post has reported.

Betong is located inland in the southernmost part of Thailand, Yala province, near the Malaysian border. The province does not currently have an active commercial airport. Seaside Narathiwat airport is located over 100 kilometres away. One of Malaysia's major gateways at Penang is also around 100 kilometres away.

Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith said that flights from Bangkok Suvarnabhumi or Bangkok Don Mueang would take around 1:40 hours. The government also hopes to attract flights from Malaysia and Singapore to Betang going forward.

Construction of the Betang airport is around 85% complete and scheduled to end in September 2019. Following the certification of the airport, first flights are expected to take off from Betang in June 2020.