Passenger traffic through Thailand's key airports during the New Year holiday season is expected to surge 6.6%.
Based on airline notifications to Airports of Thailand Plc (AoT), a total of 2.94 million passengers, or 420,000 a day, will pass through those airports from Dec 28 to Jan 3.
Aircraft movements, referring to take-offs and landings, are projected to rise in tandem by 5.8% from the same period a year ago to 17,570 or 2,510 a day.
But the passenger traffic in the period would grow by a larger percentage if not for airport slot constraints pervasive at all but one AoT-operated airport.
"We cannot increase our passenger throughput by much because all of the slots are fully taken," said Suthirawat Suwannawat, general manager of Don Mueang airport.
Overcrowding has been an issue because of capacity shortfalls.
At Suvarnabhumi airport, the country's main gateway, passenger throughput is expected to grow by 2.7% in the seven-day period to 1.32 million or 188,500 a day, with aircraft movements rising 5% to 7,200 or 1,030 a day.
Don Mueang, the country's second-busiest airport and a low-cost carrier hub, expects a 4.9% rise in passenger traffic to 781,400 or 111,630 a day, with aircraft movements edging up 3.4% to 5,200 or 740 a day.
Phuket airport's passenger volume is expected to leap 16% to 425,300 or 60,760 a day, with flight movements rising 12% to 2,500 or 360 a day, thanks to the completion of a recent airport upgrade that raised capacity.
Chiang Mai airport is forecast to see 11.1% growth in passenger traffic to 243,900 or 34,840 a day, while aircraft movements will increase 5.4% to 1,630 or 230 a day.
At Hat Yai, passenger throughput is projected to grow by 4% to 89,100 or 12,730 a day, with aircraft movements rising 4.7% to 620 or 90 a day.
Chiang Rai is projected to record a 42.6% surge in passenger traffic to 78,200 or 11,170 a day, on a 19.4% jump in aircraft movements to 420 or 60 a day.