More flights, cheaper tickets planned for Songkran: Suriya
An additional 38 domestic flights with an estimated 13,000 seats will be added during the long Songkran holiday season in April to cope with the increasing demand that has recently driven up air ticket prices.
Transport Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit on Thursday said the move was among the short-term measures being developed to tackle the problem of high airfares.
Suriya noted that he had instructed the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) to work with airlines and relevant state agencies to find a solution after many citizens complained on social media.
Suriya also ordered CAAT to come up with a contingency plan to cope with increased air travel during long holiday breaks, while ensuring convenience for Thai and foreign tourists, as raised last week by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin.
The CAAT on Wednesday convened a meeting with six airlines that serve domestic routes – Thai Airways International, Thai AirAsia, Bangkok Airways, Thai Lion Air, Nok Air, and Thai Vietjet. Those in attendance came up with measures to reduce the impact of rising fare prices. These include a plan to increase the number of flights to meet demand during the long holidays, especially during the upcoming Songkran Festival – and reduce the price of some tickets.
The plan calls for 38 additional domestic flights between April 11-12 and 15-16 covering all popular regional airports, including Chiang Mai, Phuket, Krabi, Udon Thani, Khon Kaen, and Ubon Ratchathani.
Those extra flights, totalling some 13,000 seats, will be scheduled for early mornings and late evenings outside of normal flight times. This will enable airlines to offer lower prices for passengers who choose to fly at those hours, the transport minister explained.
Suriya added that he has instructed the Department of Airports, Airports of Thailand Plc (AOT), and Aeronautical Radio of Thailand to extend their operating hours and to dispatch staff to cope with the additional airline flights and passengers.
