Thai Airports Remain Upbeat During Low Season

1st Jul 2013

All major airports in Thailand including Bangkok's main gateway, Suvarnabhumi, reported a steady increase in traffic throughout the traditional low season.

In May alone, all six major airports in the country posted a cumulative increase of 17.27% in aircraft movement, at 46,890 flights up from 39,985 during the same period last year. The passenger traffic, meanwhile, posted a huge increase of 20.54% over the same month a year ago, from 5,609,089 to 6,761,369 passengers.

The country's principal gateway saw a slight increase in international aircraft movements during the month of May, at 19,332 or 2.07% over the same period last year's figure of 18,940. Due to the departure of some of the domestic flights to Bangkok's older Don Mueang Airport, Suvarnabhumi's domestic aircraft movements dropped a hefty 33.24%, at 4,985 down from 7,467 over the same period last year.

The passenger traffic at Suvarnabhumi, likewise, grew to 3,264,991 or 3.61% increase over the same period last year's record of 3,151,238. Its domestic passenger traffic understandably decreased by 30.15% at 688,241 down from last year's record of 985,281.

Don Mueang Airport registered a record increase both in aircraft movements and passenger traffic during the same period. Its international aircraft movements posted a huge 104.39% increase this year at 8,051 from last year's 3,939.

Its international passenger traffic registered an unprecedented massive increase of 8,938.38% over the same period last year's record of 4,872 to 440,350. The airport also recorded a huge 204.41% increase in domestic passenger traffic from last year's 284,165 to this year's 865,014.

With the opening of international operations at Don Mueang Airport recently, it is now officially designated as an alternative gateway to Bangkok from regional flights. The AirAsia group of airlines are now operating from Don Mueang with both domestic and international flights.

The country's northern gateway, Chiang Mai International Airport, showed a robust growth as well, registering an increase of 73.05% and 9.30% for its international and domestic aircraft movements, respectively. Its international passenger traffic grew by 66.22% to 55,221 from last year's 33,221. Its domestic passenger traffic, on the other hand, posted a decent 23.20% increase from 273,532 to 336,993 passengers.

Phuket International Airport similarly recorded a strong growth in both aircraft movements and passenger traffic. Its international aircraft movements registered a growth of 30.49% or 3,060 from 2,345 last year. On the domestic front, it posted a growth of 10.74% over the same period last year or 2,680 from 2,420. Its passenger traffic, both international and domestic, meanwhile, posted a cumulative increase of 28.14%, or 807,830 from last year's 630,440.

The country's two other international airports of Chiang Rai and Hat Yai, likewise, registered growth in all sectors. Though both airports posted a slight decline in aircraft movements, they, nonetheless, recorded an increase in overall passenger traffic.

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