Scheduled Airline Fees Not Reduced

[NBT TV Phuket]

From http://www.thaisnews.com/news_detail.php?newsid=138227

with mini-video & voice available:

Special report for Andaman News TV11 & FM90.5 Phuket 8.30am Wednesday 3 August 2005

The airline operations and tourist arrivals at Phuket International Airport have dramatically dipped since the tsunami in December, although it has still seemed busy with many VIPs, military and relief visitors.

Squadron Leader Pornchai Eua-aree, Phuket Airport’s General Manager & Vice President Airport of Thailand plc, disclosed to Andaman News, that the cabinet rejected the recent proposal to cancel or significantly reduce landing fees of scheduled airlines at Phuket & Krabi airports, as they reasoned it would not be enough incentive as it only forms a small percentage of the airlines’ costs. However the cabinet did agree to reduce the fees for international charter airlines, but not the passenger departure tax.

Also the figures for the number of arrivals in the past 6 months were not as bad as portrayed in the press, with the first 2 weeks of July showing a slight increase, especially following the new discounted domestic package of flights from Bangkok on offer from the beginning of July to October.

He was optimistic arrivals and airlines coming direct to Phuket would increase over the next few months, and the airport expansion and runway would still have to go ahead for the long term.

He also supported the Phuket Governor’s wishes to have more public transport, including taxi-meters, serving the airport’s passengers.

At present, Phuket is beginning to see an increase in tourist arrivals and hopes that Phuket Airport and the airlines can facilitate and encourage the increase and help both the public and private sectors efforts to revive the Andaman tourism industry.