The Transport Ministry has directed the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) to tackle the issue of high airfares during long weekends and holiday periods in preparation for the Songkran festival in April.
On Tuesday, Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit announced that he instructed CAAT to establish long-term price control measures to keep airfares within an appropriate ceiling, prioritizing passenger benefits.
In response, the CAAT committed to managing the expected surge in air traffic during the Songkran period, warning travelers to purchase tickets in advance to avoid higher prices as the festival approaches.
Mr. Suriya had previously issued a similar directive on air ticket price controls before the New Year holidays, noting that more seats would be made available during peak travel periods to help lower fares.
This initiative aims to reduce ticket prices and stimulate tourism growth, he added.
According to the ministry, at least 70,000 additional seats were available for purchase from December 26 to January 5, resulting in lowered ticket prices. Passengers paid an average of approximately 2,415 baht for flights from Bangkok to Chiang Mai, down from the previous year’s average of 2,729 baht for a one-way ticket on the same route.
Similarly, the average fare for flights from Bangkok to Phuket decreased to 2,787 baht, compared to 2,895 baht a year earlier, reported Mr. Suriya.
The ministry also reported a 6.5% increase in domestic flights during the New Year holidays, leading to a more than 10% rise in the number of domestic passengers.
Mr. Suriya stated that Thailand’s tourism industry is clearly in a recovery phase, with domestic air travel exceeding levels from the previous year, driven by various tourism promotion initiatives.