Thailand air traffic decrease only 1%

[Admin]

Thailand air traffic decrease only 1% 
Bangkok Post: 14 Jan 2010
2009 air traffic decrease less than 1%

Passenger totals passing through Thailand's six main airports last year were almost the same as in 2008, calling into question earlier worries about the state of the industry.

Total passenger throughput fell 0.87%, a smaller decline than expected earlier in the year, to 53.93 million, thanks to the recovery that began in August and dramatic gains in November and December after a major contraction in the first seven months.

Domestic passenger traffic through airports including Suvarnabhumi for 2009 rose 5.43% to 21.1 million, while international volume dropped 4.53% to 32.89 million, according to figures compiled by Airports of Thailand Plc (AoT).

However, combined aircraft movements slipped 2.44% year-on-year to 362,476, with international frequencies dropping 4.25% to 202,745 and domestic flights down 0.06% to 159,731.

Cargo throughput contracted 11.83% to 1.13 million tonnes, with international tonnage down 12.49% to 1.04 million tonnes and domestic volume off 3.78% to 94,066 tonnes.

Remarkable improvements were seen at Suvarnabhumi last year, with a total passenger traffic increase 4.91% to 40.49 million, flight frequencies up 3.36% to 253,967, though cargo tonnage fell 12.34% to 1.03 million tonnes.

Most analysts agree that the traffic recovery should continue gradually in 2010 as the slump in travel demand has bottomed out and Thailand's tourism and general economic outlook are improving.

Thanks to a surge in tourism arrivals in the last quarter of 2009, the Thai tourism industry was projected to close 2009 with a total of 14 million arrivals, down just 4% over 2008.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand now projects a 7-10% increase in 2010 to between 15 and 15.5 million visitors, "if no serious political threats arise".

www.bangkokpost.com/business/aviation/30986/2009-air-traffic-decrease-less-than-1

[urleft]

   Wonder if that equates to the amount of flights no longer provided by PB Air?   

[nookiebear]

I find it impossible to believe those figures.I was at Swampy over a dozen times through the last year,the place was very very quiet even at the beginning of December.