Thailand's six main airports are expected to handle about 3.21 million passengers during the coming Songkran holiday, Airports of Thailand (AoT) president Nitinai Sirismatthakarn said yesterday.
The airports are Suvarnabhumi in Samut Prakan, Don Mueang in Bangkok, Phuket, Chiang Mai, Hat Yai in Songkhla and Mae Fah Luang in Chiang Rai.
The number of passengers expected at these airports between April 11-17 accounts for a 12.3% rise when compared with that during the same period last year, he said.
On average, the six airports are expected to handle 458,400 passengers per day during this period, he said.
They are also expected to handle a total of 18,460 flights during the same period, or about 2,640 flights a day, a 6.1% rise on last year, he said.
Of this number, 230 will be charter flights, he said.
At Suvarnabhumi alone, 1.37 million passengers are expected, or about 196,000 passengers per day, which accounts for a 5.8% increase, he said.
Suvarnabhumi will handle 7,700 flights during the Songkran period, or about 1,100 flights a day, he said.
Don Mueang airport, meanwhile, is expected to receive about 970,000 passengers, or about 138,000 per day, an 18% increase on last year, he said.
The other four airports are expected to altogether handle 458,000 passengers throughout the Songkran period, or 65,400 a day, which accounts for a 16.2% rise, he said.
Meanwhile, Transport Minister Pol Gen Adul Sangsingkeo said the government is seeking cooperation from all employers in allowing every employee, Thai and migrant, who may wish to travel home for the Songkran holiday.
The official holiday begins on April 12 and ends on April 16, he said.
The cabinet has approved waiving the 2,000-baht visa stamp fee for Cambodian, Lao and Myanmar workers who head home between April 5 and April 30.
