BANGKOK, Apr 8 – The water-splashing Songkran New Year’s festival – dubbed Thailand’s golden week – is approaching quickly as operators of buses, trains and airports work are working overtime to ensure smooth journeys for both domestic and international holiday makers.
Wuthichart Kalayanamitr, Transport Company president, said about 1.4 million passengers will travel on interprovincial buses – 800,000 outbound and 600,000 inbound – during the long Songkran holiday.
The Transport Company will increase its service from 5,000 trips daily to 7,000 trips to enable all passengers to reach their destinations on time, he said.
Prapas Chongsa-nguan, State Railway of Thailand governor, said more interprovincial trips and additional coaches for trains will be available April 11-18.
At least 120,000 passengers will travel daily on the busiest routes from Bangkok to Sila-as in Uttaradit, Ubon Ratchathani, Udon Thani and Si Sa Ket in Thailand’s Northeast, he said.
The Airports of Thailand (AoT) said several airlines have added charter flights to Bangkok’s two airports between April 9 and 18.
The normal 802 daily flights to Suvarnabhumi airport will be increased to 844 flights and passengers will be up from 157,000 persons/day to 164,000 persons/day.
Don Meaung airport will be equally busy with 370 flights/day, an increase from the regular 320 flights/day, while passengers will increase from 45,000 persons/day to 50,000 persons/day, AoT reported.
