Thailand air traffic gains continue
Bangkok Post: 21 Oct 2009
Air traffic gains continuePassenger traffic through key Thai airports gained a robust 18.1% in September while combined flight movements increased by 8% from a year earlier. September was the second consecutive monthly gain as volume started to recover from contractions in the first seven months of the year.
Passengers passing through the six major airports including Suvarnabhumi totalled 4.1 million, compared to 3.48 million in the same period last year, according to figures compiled by Airports of Thailand Plc.
Total aircraft movements in September were 28,971, which was 2,139 more than in the same period last year.
Analysts said the September figures suggested the world economic recession had eased and travellers were resuming their traditional travel patterns upon the start of peak season.
An indicator is that international passengers increased for the first time this year with 10.9% growth in September to 2.47 million. International flight movements in September were static, contracting 0.50% from the same period last year to 15,931.
Contributing to the overall September passenger traffic growth was the continued surge in domestic travellers, as the month's numbers jumped 31% to 1.64 million, driven largely by cheap air fares and tourism marketing. Domestic flight movements increased 20.5% to 13,040.
However, for the first nine months of this year, total passenger traffic was still 10.1% lower year-on-year, at 38.64 million, while combined flight movements contracted 8.62% to 265,251.
January-September international passenger traffic was still down 13.9% to 23.46 million, with domestic volumes off 3.5% to 15.18 million.
Writer: BOONSONG KOSITCHOTETHANA
www.bangkokpost.com/business/economics/26012/air-traffic-gains-continue
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