Nok Air
Thailand’s low-cost airline, operating an extensive domestic network from Bangkok Don Mueang with a distinctive bird-themed identity.
About Nok Air
Nok Air is a Thai low-cost airline founded in 2004 and headquartered in Bangkok. The company is publicly listed in Thailand, and Thai Airways was among its founding shareholders. Its name comes from the Thai word for “bird,” an identity reflected in the brightly coloured beak designs painted on its aircraft. The airline operates under the DD code and focuses primarily on affordable domestic travel.
Bangkok’s Don Mueang International Airport is Nok Air’s primary hub and the centre of its network. The airline operates 44 routes serving 21 destinations within Thailand, connecting the capital with major cities and smaller regional communities. Chiang Mai, Mae Sot, Udon Thani and Buri Ram are also important departure points. Its network includes Chiang Rai, Hat Yai, Chumphon, Loei and several provincial capitals.
Aircraft types associated with Nok Air’s operations include the Boeing 737-800, Boeing 737-400, ATR 72 and Saab SF-340. The larger Boeing aircraft have principally served higher-demand trunk routes, while regional turboprops have supported thinner services and airports with more limited demand. Nok Air follows a low-cost, predominantly single-cabin model, with optional extras and fare bundles affecting services such as baggage, seats and flexibility.
Nok Air is not a member of Star Alliance, SkyTeam or Oneworld, so passengers should not expect alliance-wide status benefits, lounge access or through-ticketing. Its own customer programme is Nok Fan Club, which provides a direct membership relationship with the airline. Travellers connecting to another carrier should check whether baggage can be transferred or must be collected and checked in again.
The airline’s main strength is the breadth of its domestic coverage, particularly routes linking Bangkok with regional Thai cities that may have fewer nonstop alternatives. Its low-cost structure can make base fares attractive, but the final price depends on the selected bundle and optional services. Schedule changes can also have a greater impact on routes with limited daily frequencies, so passengers should allow adequate time around important commitments or separate connections.
Good to know
Flying with Nok Air — what to expect
Don Mueang Hub
Nok Air’s Bangkok flights primarily use Don Mueang International Airport rather than Suvarnabhumi. Confirm the airport carefully when arranging transfers or connecting between airlines.
Check Fare Inclusions
Baggage, seat selection and ticket flexibility can vary by fare or bundle. Compare the total price after adding the services you need.
Domestic Network Focus
Nok Air is particularly useful for travel between Bangkok and regional Thai cities. Some provincial routes may operate less frequently than major trunk services.
Separate Connections
Nok Air is not part of a global airline alliance. Leave a generous buffer for self-connections, especially when changing airports or travelling on separate tickets.
Online Check-In
Check whether online check-in is available for your airport and fare before departure. At smaller stations, arriving early allows time for document checks and baggage acceptance.
Network overview
Where Nok Air flies
Nok Air operates 44 routes to 21 destinations across 1 countries, its longest sector reaching Bangkok to Hat Yai (776 km nonstop).
Destinations served
Cities Nok Air flies to, most-served first.
Main hubs
Busiest departure bases, by route count.
Fleet
Aircraft types on record for these routes.
Longest nonstop route
Bangkok → Hat Yai
776 km · DMK → HDY
The longest sector in the Nok Air network, measured as the great-circle distance between the two airports.
Route data · TravelPayouts route data · updated 2026-07
Route network
Popular routes operated by Nok Air
Notable destinations on Nok Air's network.
DDBangkokdirectDDChiang MaidirectDDMae SotdirectDDUdon ThanidirectDDBuri RamdirectDDChiang RaidirectDDChumphondirectDDHat YaidirectDDLoeidirectDDMae Hong SondirectDDNakhon PhanomdirectDDNakhon Si ThammaratdirectDestination list is indicative of Nok Air's network; see the airline's official route map for its complete, current schedule.
Reviews of Nok Air
TripAdvisor · 2020–2023- 53
- 43
- 34
- 21
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What travellers flew
Counted from the 50 reviews below — a tally of the flights reviewed, with each chip carrying the average score those reviewers gave. Nothing here reads their prose or summarises what they said.
✓ marks a group averaging 7/10 or better, − one averaging 4/10 or worse, across at least three reviews.
Estafadores
My flight was cancelled, and I'm still waiting for a refund. They do not respond to any email, I think they have scammed me. I will not fly with them again.
Posted May 2023 by Xavier
AVOID!!!!!
1st, there was a problem with the website, it kept writing error although the money was taken from my bank account. 2nd, they sent me to the wrong airport!!! 500 km away! 3rd, they cancelled my return flight. 4th, they became silent when I asked for the… See more reimbursement. HIGHLY UNPROFESSIONAL!
See lessPosted April 2023 by Jeanne
Worst Airlines
Flight got cancelled and was supposed to get a full refund, after receiving an e-mail saying that the refund is confirmed and should arrive back in my bank account it has not been credited even after a month. Choose a different airline
Posted March 2023 by Pranav
Terrible customer service
I just received an email about a flight schedule change and was offered a very unattractive change. Got information, that I can refuse and select another flight with one of three channels: 1) email, 2) FB messenger, 3) call centre... what followed: 1) email… See more returned a postmaster delivery error and informed that the recipients of the email given by Nok Air were not found... 2) at FB my message was read, but nobody bother to respond... 3) nobody answers my call at the call centre Dear Nok Air, what quality of service it is? You change my flight to a much worse one, say that I can require a different one, but then don't answer at ANY OF THE CHANNELS that you provided... And, of course, it is the last-second change (the flight is tomorrow) and you say, that my appeal can only be made a day ahead... do you want to just wait me out? Can anyone answer??
See lessPosted March 2023 by Maciej P, Warsaw
Low Cost Airlines with Premium Price on many routes
Since 2020, I have love and hate affairs with Nok Air on regular basis. As my job demand me to fly to many locations such as Buriram, Chiangmai, Chiangrai, Chumphon, Hatyai, Lampang, Loei, Mae Sot, Nakhon Sri Thammarat, Ranong, Surat Thani, Phuket, Udon Thani,… See more and Ubon Ratchatani. So, I ended up flew Nok Air more than another available airlines in Thailand domestic sercies. The positive side, Nok Air tends to have one of the best coverage throughout Thai airports. If you have to travel to certain provinces, Nok Air is one of the airline that came out of your mind that they will fly there. Especially remote provinces. Average side: Seat comfort is better than many low cost airline. Larger seat. But old and not very well maintained. Average leg room, better than some low cost airlines. No entertainment in the same manner with other airlines. So-so customer services. Apart from lucky draw for customers to fill in during 2021, nothing fancy came up to my mind. On highly competitive flights, they are value for money. Their plane is probably the cleanest among low cost carriers. Prior to covid19, they tend to have some hot food as a complimentary. Now I did not see them until today. Negative side of this airline: Check in and boarding services are as bad as any low cost airlines. But the worst part is the lack of concern over the passengers who have to depart but may stuck with some of the airport security. I have to admit that Don Muang Airport is one of the worst airport in security check timing and management. I used to stuck between 30-60 minutes just to pass security check up. The queue management is horrible. Nokair can help their passengers, who may stuck in those process by indicating to the airport officers for special needed. But that's never happen. I missed 2 flights from my last year one to Lampang another to Chiangrai due to the waiting time for security check. Also, the airlines tend not to inform their customer, if their flight time is changing. The worst part of this airline is their ticket pricing. In a high competitive routes such as Chiangmai, Phuket, Hat Yai, Khon Kaen, Udon Thani, etc. You may not notice the differences. BUT if you have to travel to unique location where Nokair held monopoly or duopoly, prepare for the worst. The destination such as Lampang, Loei, Ranong, Chumphon, Mae Sot, Mae Hongsorn, Betong. Their ticket price can be as expensive as any full service airlines (in some case, even more than international flights). The location that you need to travel on Bombardier Q400 propeller aircrafts. That is the sign of hefty price on your ticket prices. For duopoly location such as Lampang, Loei; you better check with their competitor as well. If there is a full service competing on the same route, just pay extra for full service airline. Flight cancellation is possible for this airlines. I've got 2 cancellation during the 2021, one to Mae Sot (where they have monopoly). I have to book Bangkok Airways to Sukhothai and rent a car to drive to Mae Sot which is 2 hours drive to my original destination). Another is Chumphon, which led to me get my colleague to drop me off at Surat Thani and catching another airlines home. Another case is Betong, which I and my team planned to travel but luckily Nokair cancel that flight before we finalize our booking. So, travelling with Nokair is adventurous. Flight cancellations are possible. For some of my case such as Lampang. Nokair offered a flight from Chiangmai plus bus services from Lampang to Chiangmai for their customers. So, they do take responsibilities on many cases. Generally, they are average airline that you can travel with.
See lessPosted March 2023 by Chakrit T, Bangkok
The worst in a world
The shitest compagny ever. Never take a ticket with that compagny It’s a scam stole the money for foreigners tourist
Posted March 2023 by Sid M
Traveller reviews originally published on TripAdvisor, shown for reference — service standards may have changed since. Originfacts does not edit or verify individual reviews, and the sample reflects who chose to leave one.
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FAQ
Nok Air — frequently asked questions
Quick answers to the details travellers usually check first, from codes and locations to the practical basics that help with planning.
8 common questions
- Originfacts compares live fares from hundreds of airlines and travel agencies via its partner Travelpayouts. Originfacts never adds a fee.
- Nok Air’s primary hub is Bangkok’s Don Mueang International Airport. Most of its services from the Thai capital use Don Mueang rather than Suvarnabhumi.
- Nok Air flies within Thailand, serving cities such as Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Hat Yai, Udon Thani, Mae Sot and Nakhon Si Thammarat. Its network combines major domestic routes with services to smaller regional communities.
- The airline’s busiest departure points by route count are Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Mae Sot, Udon Thani and Buri Ram. Bangkok Don Mueang is its principal hub.
- Nok Air permits cabin baggage subject to the limits attached to the passenger’s fare and current policy. Check the airline’s official baggage page before travel because permitted size, weight and item counts can change.
- Nok Air serves 21 destinations across 1 country and operates 44 routes.
- Nok Air’s longest route is Bangkok to Hat Yai, covering about 776 km nonstop.
- Nok Air tickets are often cheaper when booked early and outside Thai public holidays, school breaks and peak festival periods. Comparing midweek departures and checking the final price with baggage and seat fees included can reveal better value.