Thai airports to cater for nearly 6m int'l passengers during Lunar Festival 2019

BANGKOK, January 30 (TNA) - Airports of Thailand Public Company Limited (AOT) reports that the country's six international airports nationwide will serve about 5.93 million international passengers totally during this year's Chinese New Year celebration, set from January 30 to February 11. AOT President Nitinai Sirismatthakarn told journalists on January 29 AOT has been notified by international airlines that about 35,000 flights, catering for the nearly 6 million international passengers, will resort to the aviation service of the six Thai international airports across the country. According to the AOT president, the six international Thai airports include the Suvarnabhumi Airport on the outskirts of Bangkok, the Don Mueang Airport in Bangkok, the Chiang Mai Airport and the Mae Fah Luang Airport, or the Chiang Rai Airport, in the Thai North, as well as the Phuket Airport and the Hat Yai Airport in the Thai South. The AOT president stated that the 35,000 flights and the 5.93 million international passengers, notified by the international airlines, represent an increase of about 7.2 per cent and 4.0 per cent, when compared with those notified for the Chinese New Year Festival 2018. The AOT president said about 800 flights, out of the 35,000 flights totally, have been notified to be special charter flights, serving about 119,000 international passengers totally. The AOT president acknowledged the Suvarnabhumi Airport will mostly serve about 14,800 flights and about 2.63 million international passengers, an increase of about 9 per cent and 3.6 per cent respectively when compared with last year's Chinese New Year, followed by the Don Mueang Airport that will cater for about 10,300 flights and about 1.61 million international passengers, an increase of about 6.6 per cent and about 4.3 per cent respectively. The AOT president revealed for Thai international airports in provincial areas, all airports, except the Hat Yai Airport, will serve more flights and international passengers during this year's Lunar New Year celebration, with the Phuket Airport notified to mostly serve about 4,800 flights and about 920,000 international passengers, an increase of about 0.3 per cent and about 4.1 per cent respectively, followed by the Chiang Mai Airport that will serve about 3,300 flights and about 500,000 international passengers, an increase of about 13.6 per cent and about 9.4 per cent respectively. (TNA)