Passenger traffic through Suvarnabhumi airport contracted for the first time since its September 2006 opening as Bangkok’s political turbulence took a toll.
Passenger throughput slumped 7-8% in the first two months this year to an average of 120,000-130,000 a day because international traveller flows shrunk more intensely as civil unrest escalated.
The preliminary figures from Airports of Thailand Plc (AoT) alarmed some in Suvarnabhumi management because it sets a downward trend with no solution in sight to the turmoil.
Suvarnabhumi handles 60% of all air traffic through the country.
Suvarnabhumi’s passenger throughput started to fall in early January after flatlining the month before, a peak month that would normally see double-digit growth. The airport used to handle 180,000 to 200,000 passengers a day.
AoT reported Suvarnabhumi’s passenger traffic in January declined by 2.55% to 4.39 million, with domestic and international flows heading in opposite directions. Domestic passengers in January rose 5.81% to 846,512, while international numbers plunged 4.35% to 3.54 million.
Take-offs and landings through Suvarnabhumi rose 11.9% to 27,393, as frequencies did not dip despite political concerns.