What happened
Airports of Thailand is studying a return of inbound duty-free shops closed by a July 2024 government order at the six airports it manages. The operator is measuring how much those shops would earn and says the aim would be more choice and convenience for arriving passengers.
The shops, mostly run by King Power in arrivals and baggage claim, were shut in a push to steer spending into domestic stores. The government cited 3 billion baht in inbound duty-free sales volume at the time. Thailand has since cut high taxes on wine and champagne, once a main draw for inbound shopping. LoyaltyLobby argues the domestic-spending case never held and that King Power's inbound prices were rarely notable. The idea remains a feasibility study, not an approved reopening.
If the shops come back, travellers into Thailand could buy wine and spirits after landing instead of carrying them from an earlier airport. Treat this as a study only and keep buying those goods on an earlier flight until AOT actually reopens the shops.
- Numbers
- 3.86%: nine-month net profit increase
- 14.812 billion baht: net profit for first nine months of fiscal 2026
- 549.96 million baht: year-over-year net profit increase
- 1.39%: decline in total revenue
- 50.205 billion baht: total revenue for first nine months of fiscal 2026
- 3 billion baht: inbound duty-free sales volume cited when shops were closed
- Where
- Suvarnabhumi Airport, Don Mueang, Chiang Mai, Mae Fah Luang Chiang Rai, Phuket, Hat Yai, Bangkok, Thailand
- Takeaway
- Do not assume inbound duty-free is back; keep watching AOT and still buy on an earlier flight if you need those goods.