Passenger traffic through Thailand's six main airports grew at a slower rate in the first quarter of this year compared with the same period last year.
Newly-released figures from the Airports of Thailand Plc (AoT) showed that a total of 34.9 million passengers passed through airports operated by AoT from January to March, an increase of 7.96% from the same period last year.
In comparison, the first quarter of last year saw a 13.7% rise in passenger traffic from the previous year's figures to 32.3 million.
In tandem, aircraft movements in the first quarter 2017 rose 6.64% to 211,054, compared with 9.47% growth registered in last year's first quarter with 197,913.
According to industry analysts, the first quarter 2017 traffic results reflect a more traditional growth pattern as capacity constraints at three airports -- Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang and Phuket -- restrict growth.
The growth was also held back by reduced arrivals from China -- Thailand's number one foreign tourist source -- a result of a clampdown on tour scams.
The partial closure of a runway at Suvarnabhumi airport for repairs, running from March 3 to May 2 this year, was another contributor.
International passenger traffic through the six AoT-operated airports rose 4.9% in the first quarter of this year to 19.6 million while domestic numbers were up 12.1% to 15.3 million.
Year-on-year passenger traffic growth at each of the six airports in the first quarter of 2017 are: Suvarnabhumi with 16.1 million (up 5.43%); Don Mueang 9.62 million (up 8.74%); Phuket 4.65 million (up 9.12%); Chiang Mai 2.74 million (up 10.5%); Hat Yai 1.11 million (up 20.1%) and Chiang Rai 648,395 (up 25.5%).