FILE photo

 

Airports of Thailand (AoT) recently reported a significant rise in air traffic, marking nearly 120 million passengers during the last fiscal year ending 30 September. This figure represents a 19% increase compared to the prior year, showcasing a strong recovery for the aviation industry post-pandemic.

 

AoT manages six major airports: Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, Chiang Mai, Phuket, Mae Fah Luang in Chiang Rai, and Krabi. Of the total passengers recorded, 72.6 million were international travellers, a notable 34.8% increase, while domestic flyers marginally rose by 1%, amounting to 46.6 million.

 

Flight movements at these hubs totalled 732,690, up 14.5% year-on-year. Notably, international flights surged by 29.3% to 416,190, whereas domestic services saw a slight decrease, showing a 0.73% drop.

 

The AoT anticipates further growth, with expectations of 129.9 million passengers and over 800,000 flights in the current year. Kerati Kijmanawat, AoT president, shared that this growth is set to continue into the winter season, with 370,239 flights scheduled. This represents a 22.1% increase from last year's figures, driven largely by inbound flights from China, Malaysia, India, Singapore, and Hong Kong.

 

Such expansions necessitate improved aviation services, a goal addressed by Mr Kijmanawat as the AoT aims for global recognition as a top-tier flight operator, reported Bangkok Post.

 

On a related note, Aeronautical Radio of Thailand (Aerothai) highlighted adjustments to flight paths due to changing weather patterns. To ensure safety during the cool season months, planes approaching Bangkok's two main airports - Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang - might require revised routes over the city centre, an adjustment prompted by forecasted shifts in wind conditions.

 

-- 2024-10-31

 

 

I thought that was an enormous amount for Thailand (2 times the population), then I checked the USA which does almost 1 billion passengers (3 times the population). When I think of the numbers, there must be an incredible amount of people in the air every day, just WOW!