Transport Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit has announced that approximately 2.65 million passengers are expected to travel through six major Thai airports during the New Year holiday week. This marks a 35.5% increase compared to the same period last year. The six airports, managed by the Airports of Thailand (AOT), include Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, Chiang Mai, Phuket, Hat Yai, and Mae Fah Luang – Chiang Rai.
Suriya said an average of 379,860 passengers per day are anticipated during this period, with the AOT operating a total of 15,152 flights, averaging 2,165 flights per day. This figure represents a 27.4% increase from the previous year.
In light of the expected surge in travelers, the minister urged airport officials to prioritize passenger safety and streamline services. Efforts to manage the increased traffic include deploying technologies such as self-service check-in kiosks, bag drop points, self-boarding gates, and passenger validation systems.
Passengers are advised to arrive 2-3 hours before their departure time to avoid delays during peak hours. Additionally, to ease travel during the holidays, AOT will offer free parking at Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, and Phuket airports from midnight December 29 to midnight January 1.
At Suvarnabhumi Airport, free parking will be available in Zone C for up to 718 cars, while Don Mueang Airport will offer free spaces in its warehouse 2 and 5-storey parking building for 250 cars, with shuttle bus services provided to passenger terminals. Phuket Airport will also have free parking at its head office, although no shuttle service will be available. (NNT)
