Air passengers expected to exceed 1.83m during Thailand's Songkran Festival

BANGKOK, April 5 (TNA) - The number of international passengers travelling by air during the upcoming Songkran or the traditional Thai New Year Festival is projected to exceed 1.83 million, or a 7 per cent increase compared to last year. Siroj Duangrat, Director of Thailand's main Suvarnabhumi International Airport, told journalists on Tuesday it is expected that over 1.83 million passengers should travel by air during April 8-18, or 166,760 daily on average, a 7 per cent year-on-year increase. Siroj assessed that of the projected air passengers, about 1.54 million of them would travel overseas, while the rest would be travelling domestically. Siroj said approximately 10,296 flights would operate during the 11-day period, up 5.77 per cent year-on-year. According to the Suvarnabhumi International Airport director, a passenger facilitation centre will be set up at his airport to provide conveniences to international passengers round-the-clock during the period. The director noted that government offices and private firms nationwide will be closed during the official Songkran days, from April 13-15, but most offices will be re-opened from April 18 onwards. (TNA)