At least 2.69 million tourists are expected to arrive in Thailand on 16,000 flights during the water-splashing Songkran festival, according to the Airports of Thailand Plc (AoT).
Several airlines will increase flights to Bangkok April 9-18. Flights via Suvarnabhumi airport will be boosted from 802 flights/day to 844 flights/day through the Thai New Year festival, comprised of 682 international flights and 162 domestic flights.
Passengers using the airport during Songkran will increase from around 157,000 persons/day to 164,000 persons/day.
Don Mueang airport, which provides budget airline service, will be equally busy with 370 flights/day, up from the normal 320 flights/day.
Passenger traffic will rise to about 50,000 persons/day from the regular 45,000 persons/day, the AoT said.
Phuket airport in Thailand’s south will see 191 flights/day over the holiday period, an increase from the normal 170 flights/day, while passengers will increase from 27,000 persons/day to 30,000 persons/day.
At Chiang Mai airport in the north of Thailand, 128 flights will tread the runway each day during the festival. Normal traffic at the airport is 120 flights/day. Passengers will increase from 13,800 persons/day to 14,600 persons/day.
