Thai airports to raise passenger service charge

[webfact]

Thai airports to raise passenger service charge
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Passengers at six international airports will have to shoulder a higher airport tax, as the airport operator is raising the rate to reflect the actual operating cost.

Sita Divari, chairman of Airports of Thailand which operates the six airports including Suvarnabhumi Airport, said the AOT’s board of directors Thursday approved the increase.

The passenger service charge (PSC) for domestic travellers will be doubled from Bt100 to Bt200. Meanwhile, international travellers’ PSC will be raised from Bt700 to Bt800.

The PSC was last adjusted in 2011.


-- The Nation 2013-10-24

[webfact]

AOT anticipates increase in passenger numbers
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- The number of passengers travelling through Airports of Thailand's airports is expected to increase by 6-7 per cent next year.

AOT Chairman Sita Divari anticipated the increase in light of continued positive sentiment, particularly during high tourism seasons.

In June, AOT expected the number of passengers through its six international airports to rise to 85 million this year, an increase by 13.5 million or 19 per cent from last year.

The company operates six international airports. Aside from Suvarnabhumi, the others are Don Mueang, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Hat Yai and Phuket.

Suvarnabhumi is now expanding its capacity. For the second phase development, Sita said that the company would not raise capital or issue debentures to finance the investment.

He said that AOT is now sitting on some Bt38 billion in cash. The rest could be balanced by the company’s profits in the 2014-2015 fiscal years.

Today, AOT’s board of directors approved the increase in passenger service charges (PSC) for domestic and international travellers using service at its six airports.

Sita Divari, chairman of Airports of Thailand which operates the six airports including Suvarnabhumi Airport, said this adjustment is in line with the actual operating cost. AOT now pays Bt336 per domestic traveller, he said. Moreover, the higher PSC would also allow AOT to accomplish its vision to operate "the world’s smartest airports".

The passenger service charge for domestic travellers will be doubled from Bt100 to Bt200. Meanwhile, international travellers’ PSC will be raised from Bt700 to Bt800.

The PSC was last adjusted in 2011.


-- The Nation 2013-10-24

[bhakta]

Thailand just becomes a bigger and bigger ripoff of everyone who comes here. The greed that governs this country is gone wild.

[Tafia]

Thailand just becomes a bigger and bigger ripoff of everyone who comes here. The greed that governs this country is gone wild.

Yeah its gone up a whole 100 Baht where will it end

[hanno]

Thailand just becomes a bigger and bigger ripoff of everyone who comes here. The greed that governs this country is gone wild.

Yeah its gone up a whole 100 Baht where will it end

I agree BUT: first the proposed tourist charge of THN 500.00, the increase in taxes on booze, now this. Thailand IS becoming expensive.

I am not complaining though as I work in a hotel in Cambodia and it can only mean more customers for me:-).

[Mosha]

Thailand just becomes a bigger and bigger ripoff of everyone who comes here. The greed that governs this country is gone wild.

Yeah its gone up a whole 100 Baht where will it end

Look at it as a %age

[PeterSmiles]

Thailand just becomes a bigger and bigger ripoff of everyone who comes here. The greed that governs this country is gone wild.

Yeah its gone up a whole 100 Baht where will it end

I agree BUT: first the proposed tourist charge of THN 500.00, the increase in taxes on booze, now this. Thailand IS becoming expensive.

I am not complaining though as I work in a hotel in Cambodia and it can only mean more customers for me:-).

You're wrong about that.

Thailand isn't becoming expensive, It's <deleted> expensive for a few years already.

[Lancelot]

Thailand just becomes a bigger and bigger ripoff of everyone who comes here. The greed that governs this country is gone wild.

Yeah its gone up a whole 100 Baht where will it end

The two week millionaires love to brag "100 baht means nothing to me"

As another poster pointed out the 100 baht increase along with the proposed 500 baht "Medical Fee (whatever) is about an 86% increase in fees.

Amazing Thailand, the more expensive the place becomes, the more people gush about how cheap it is.

And the more visitors eager to visit.

Ah heck, why not: raise prices, beat them up and they will come

Beam me up Scotty...

Edited October 24, 2013 by Lancelot

[sustento]

The PSC in the UK ranges from £13 to £188 depending on distance and class of travel so 800bt seems quite a bargain.

[hanno]

The PSC in the UK ranges from £13 to £188 depending on distance and class of travel so 800bt seems quite a bargain.

But the UK is not competing with Thailand for visitors; Thailand is competing with countries like Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, the Philippines and now Myanmar.

[Tafia]

Thailand just becomes a bigger and bigger ripoff of everyone who comes here. The greed that governs this country is gone wild.

Yeah its gone up a whole 100 Baht where will it end

The two week millionaires love to brag "100 baht means nothing to me"

As another poster pointed out the 100 baht increase along with the proposed 500 baht "Medical Fee (whatever) is about an 86% increase in fees.

Amazing Thailand, the more expensive the place becomes, the more people gush about how cheap it is.

And the more visitors eager to visit.

Ah heck, why not: raise prices, beat them up and they will come

Beam me up Scotty...

Wish I was a millionaire 2 week or otherwise, you can look at % if you wish but it comes down to 100 Baht, I live here, I'm not a tourist and Its still a hell of a lot cheaper than the UK and that includes their airport taxes.

Of course those tourists on a budget will take it into account but the final choice is always theirs ...not forgetting those who complain about everything....Freedom of choice you gotta love it!!

Edited October 24, 2013 by Tafia

[Tafia]

The PSC in the UK ranges from £13 to £188 depending on distance and class of travel so 800bt seems quite a bargain.

But the UK is not competing with Thailand for visitors; Thailand is competing with countries like Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, the Philippines and now Myanmar.

and you think it will make a difference ... get real. Would 100 Baht stop you coming?

[Sydebolle]

Still cheap if they rid the airport of all those ghost guides, slimy cabbies and the blackmailers of King Power. And if you're at it, include the pickpockets too ;-)

[hanno]

The PSC in the UK ranges from £13 to £188 depending on distance and class of travel so 800bt seems quite a bargain.

But the UK is not competing with Thailand for visitors; Thailand is competing with countries like Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, the Philippines and now Myanmar.

and you think it will make a difference ... get real. Would 100 Baht stop you coming?

I think you did not read my entire post: of course 100 Baht won't stop me coming. But add the proposed "insurance" payment (and I am actually insured worldwide) and the general rise in prices and then Thailand certainly is not the bargain it used to be. I am in Thailand pretty much every month and a meal in a good restaurant and with the imported beer or two is certainly more expensive than in the neighboring countries.

All that to support the failed rice scheme I guess

[Lancelot]

Wish I was a millionaire 2 week or otherwise, you can look at % if you wish but it comes down to 100 Baht, I live here, I'm not a tourist and Its still a hell of a lot cheaper than the UK and that includes their airport taxes.

Of course those tourists on a budget will take it into account but the final choice is always theirs ...not forgetting those who complain about everything....Freedom of choice you gotta love it!!

But we are not in the UK, we are in Thailand. Tourisim is relatively more important to the Thai economy than it is too the UK economy.

Why is voicing an opinion "complaining about every thing?" Is it inherently wrong to disagree or must we insist every thing Thai is perfect, and beyond improvement?

Most Thais know the value of money and 600 baht is a big deal to them (100 baht airport increase + 500 baht proposed entry fee.)

But I do see why the authorities jack up the prices- most foreigners support higher prices and label all who disagree as Thai bashers.

Beam me up

[CharlieH]

600 baht to some Thais is 2 days pay ! Could you imagine the reaction if they charged the average tourust the equivalent of 2 days of their pay ?

[Lakegeneve]

600 baht to some Thais is 2 days pay ! Could you imagine the reaction if they charged the average tourust the equivalent of 2 days of their pay ?

A Thai can't be a tourist??? Thais pay the majority of PSC fee payments as tourists, domestic or international.

The domestic PSC fee is proposed to increase by 100% whereas the international only by less than 15% which is more in line with inflation. Last year, the AOT first proposed an int PSC fee increase to 1000 baht so this looks more reasonable

"The PSC was last adjusted in 2011." This seems to be incorrect as I seem to recollect that the last PSC increase was back in 06/07 when it went from 500 to 700 for the international fee. The domestic fee used to be 50 baht many years ago but I can't recollect when it increased to 100.

Basically, one less coffee or an ARL ride instead of a taxi will make up for the fee increase.

[sustento]

600 baht to some Thais is 2 days pay ! Could you imagine the reaction if they charged the average tourust the equivalent of 2 days of their pay ?

A Thai earning 300 baht a day is unlikely to be flying anywhere.

[NanLaew]

Thailand just becomes a bigger and bigger ripoff of everyone who comes here. The greed that governs this country is gone wild.

Yeah its gone up a whole 100 Baht where will it end

Look at it as a %age

100% of bugger all is...?

The UK passenger service charge for Bangok-bound pax is maybe around 25000 baht now?

[sustento]

600 baht to some Thais is 2 days pay ! Could you imagine the reaction if they charged the average tourust the equivalent of 2 days of their pay ?

A Thai can't be a tourist??? Thais pay the majority of PSC fee payments as tourists, domestic or international.

The domestic PSC fee is proposed to increase by 100% whereas the international only by less than 15% which is more in line with inflation. Last year, the AOT first proposed an int PSC fee increase to 1000 baht so this looks more reasonable

"The PSC was last adjusted in 2011." This seems to be incorrect as I seem to recollect that the last PSC increase was back in 06/07 when it went from 500 to 700 for the international fee.

That's what I remember too so the 100Bt increase is actually equivalent to about a 3% per annum increase.

[IMA_FARANG]

Another oxymoron like:

• Value Added Tax (VAT) which adds no value to the cost
• or Passenger Service Charge (PSC) which gives no "service" to passengers.

[NanLaew]

 

Wish I was a millionaire 2 week or otherwise, you can look at % if you wish but it comes down to 100 Baht, I live here, I'm not a tourist and Its still a hell of a lot cheaper than the UK and that includes their airport taxes.

Of course those tourists on a budget will take it into account but the final choice is always theirs ...not forgetting those who complain about everything....Freedom of choice you gotta love it!!

But we are not in the UK, we are in Thailand. Tourisim is relatively more important to the Thai economy than it is too the UK economy.

Why is voicing an opinion "complaining about every thing?" Is it inherently wrong to disagree or must we insist every thing Thai is perfect, and beyond improvement?

Most Thais know the value of money and 600 baht is a big deal to them (100 baht airport increase + 500 baht proposed entry fee.)

But I do see why the authorities jack up the prices- most foreigners support higher prices and label all who disagree as Thai bashers.

Beam me up

 

Again? Let me hold the transporter door open for you...

[The International Farang]

Thailand just becomes a bigger and bigger ripoff of everyone who comes here. The greed that governs this country is gone wild.

Yeah its gone up a whole 100 Baht where will it end

Look at it as a %age

100% of bugger all is...?

The UK passenger service charge for Bangok-bound pax is maybe around 25000 baht now?

My tax and fees on coming over here last were nearly $800!!

[aguy30]

It isn't the 100 or 500 baht that concerns me. It is the 4.5+ billion baht (100 baht airport charge paid by more than 45 million travelers including domestic) and 12.5 billion baht medical tax paid by 25 million tourists. That's 17+ billion baht from those increases and where will it go?

Thailand is well known for being the land of corruption and scams. Will the 17+ billion baht actually go to the government and be used to provide increased benefits for people or will it be quietly siphoned off for "deserving" government officials, party members and their friends?

[Tafia]

I learned very early in life not to worry or concern myself with things I have no control over, lends itself to a stress free existence.

Edited October 24, 2013 by Tafia

[kutjebu]

Check first the service charges on other airports,like Australia,Singapore,London and then complain.

They are even higher.

[mochafan]

I learned very early in life not to worry or concern myself with things I have no control over, lends itself to a stress free existence.

That's just as bad as saying 'mai pen rai' to everything. Sounds like a Thai 'apathetic' attitude. And that's one reason why it's still an undeveloped country. Not assertive or proactive at all...except when it comes to grabbing money from 'foreigners'.

Edited October 24, 2013 by mochafan

[PeterSmiles]

Check first the service charges on other airports,like Australia,Singapore,London and then complain.

They are even higher.

Last time I checked they were also no third world countries.

[givenall]

its not so funny when there 100bth here 100bth there it just adds up

[sustento]

I learned very early in life not to worry or concern myself with things I have no control over, lends itself to a stress free existence.

That's just as bad as saying 'mai pen rai' to everything. Sounds like a Thai 'apathetic' attitude. And that's one reason why it's still an undeveloped country. Not assertive or proactive at all...except when it comes to grabbing money from 'foreigners'.

I think you missed the 'things I have no control over' bit.