BANGKOK, Thailand – The government, in collaboration with six airlines, is taking steps to manage the anticipated surge in air travel during the New Year 2024 holiday season. Measures include adding 247 flights and 73,388 seats to popular domestic routes between December 26, 2024, and January 5, 2025. The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) has been tasked with monitoring airfare trends to ensure affordability and prevent excessive pricing during peak travel days.
The Ministry of Transport reports that a reduced fleet size, down by 25% compared to pre-COVID-19 levels, has contributed to capacity issues. To address this, airlines such as Thai Airways, Bangkok Airways, Thai AirAsia, and others are increasing flight frequency and deploying larger aircraft on routes to cities such as Chiang Mai, Phuket, Khon Kaen, and Hat Yai. Thai Airways alone has added over 25,000 seats to key destinations.
Airports will extend operating hours to accommodate additional flights, particularly during peak travel days on December 27–28, 2024, and January 1–2, 2025. Passengers are advised to book tickets through official airline websites to secure prices within CAAT’s regulated caps and avoid potential overcharges from third-party platforms. Complaints about pricing violations can be submitted through CAAT’s Complaint Portal.
Travelers are also encouraged to arrive at airports early and stay informed about flight schedules to minimize disruptions. (NNT)
