News

Airport traffic grows in April

Thailand's major airports experienced continued growth both for passenger throughput and aircraft movements in April compared to the same period last year.

The six airports, which are operated by Airports of Thailand Plc (AOT), handled 4.74 million passengers in April, representing an increase of 5.63% year-on-year, while recording 9.76% growth in aircraft movements to 33,245.

But cargo throughput slipped 5.82% to 104,444 tonnes, according to figures obtained from state-run AoT yesterday.

The April records showed a slowdown from the preceding month of March due primarily to the seasonal decline in travel demand both for domestic and international passengers.

The domestic traffic in April should have been higher, partly because it coincided with the long Songkran holidays, had it not been for security concerns, according to aviation analysts.

In March this year, the airports _ Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, Phuket, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai and Hat Yai _ handled 4.92 million passengers, 34,738 takeoffs and landings, and 110,901 tonnes of cargo.

Last month 2.96 million international passengers passed through the airports, representing an increase of 5.76% year-on-year, along with 1.77 million domestic passengers, up 5.42%.The March international passenger total was 2.80 million and domestic passengers 1.68 million. International aircraft movements in March were 18,937 and domestic ones 15,801. International cargo amounted to 106,464 tonnes on international routes and 9,293 tonnes for domestic shipments.

Traffic generated by no-frills airlines boosted Thailand's total air-traffic volume, particularly for domestic front. The monthly traffic volumes from May to July are likely to slow down due to low-season demand before picking up again in August along with the high travel season.

Last year, AoT airports handled a total of 53.03 million passengers and 358,150 aircraft movements.

Source: Bangkok Post by Boonsong Kositchotethana
Thursday May 24, 2007