The Transport Ministry has directed six domestic airlines to lower their fares by 30% and increase their flight frequency by 124 during the Songkran festival, which will take place from April 11 to 17. This move is aimed at facilitating travel for the holiday period and ensuring affordable airfares.
Transport Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit explained that these changes are designed to make travel more convenient for passengers during the busy festival season while keeping airfares reasonable. The added flights will create an additional 25,000 seats, with routes from Bangkok to popular destinations such as Chiang Mai, Krabi, Samui, Nakhon Phanom, Udon Thani, Ubon Ratchathani, Phuket, Khon Kaen, Hat Yai, and Nakhon Si Thammarat.
Passengers can book tickets in advance from March 11 to 20 through ticket counters, websites, and call centers of Thai Airways, Bangkok Airways, Thai Air Asia, Nok Air, Thai Lions Air, and Thai Viet Jet.
In addition, the Minister has instructed Airports of Thailand, the Aeronautical Radio of Thailand, and all relevant agencies to ensure smooth operations and assist passengers, promising that no one will be left stranded at the airports.
To support ground transportation, the State Railway of Thailand will add 26 trains running from Bangkok to Chiang Mai, Ubon Ratchathani, Udon Thani, and Yala during the Songkran period. The State Transport Company will deploy an additional 1,000 buses to accommodate the expected surge of 100,000 bus passengers traveling to their home provinces.
Trial runs will also be conducted on two major motorways—M6, which connects Bang Pa-in to Nakhon Ratchasima, and M81, which stretches from Bang Yai through Nakhon Pathom to Kanchanaburi—during this time. Furthermore, toll fees will be waived for passenger vehicles on five expressways.
Suriya also mentioned that the Land Transport Department has been instructed to ensure that buses traveling more than 400 kilometers will be required to have two drivers working in shifts. In cases where there is only one driver, buses must make a stop every four hours for a mandatory 30-minute break.
