Thailand to boost inbound traffic through airline incentives

AIRPORTS of Thailand (AoT) will be launching a new incentive scheme to boost the number of passengers and airlines flying into the country, according to its executive vice president for business development and marketing, Sirote Duangratana.

Valid from November 2011 till October 31, 2013, the scheme will offer airlines up to 95 per cent discount on landing fees at Suvarnabhumi Airport during the end-October till end-March winter season, and up to 75 per cent discount in the summer.

Sirote said airlines must fly in a minimum of 2,500 passengers during the calculation period to be eligible for the incentive, and must not have any outstanding payments with AoT.

The scheme will also involve a cash-back incentive arrangement for airlines registering a significant increasing in number of passengers. For a five per cent increase, airlines will receive a US$2.33 rebate per passenger. A five to seven per cent increase will earn US$2.45 per passenger; while any increases above 20 per cent will net US$6.42 per passenger.

Meanwhile, AoT is expanding Suvarnabhumi and Phuket International Airports. Suvarnabhumi Airport, which is poised to served 47 million passengers this year, will see its capacity expanded to 60-65 million passengers per year from 2017.

Aircraft and passenger handling capacity at Phuket International Airport is being bumped up from the current 6.5 million passengers per year to 12.5 million by end-2014.

By Sirima Eamtako

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