Passenger traffic through Thailand's six main airports tumbled further in February with a twenty point six percent year on year contraction due to a continued slowdown in travel demand caused by the global recession and domestic political problems.

The fall was steeper than in the preceding month when numbers shrank by fifteen point nine percent, while the outlook for March is for a continued drop as the recession deepens and domestic political conflicts escalated.

Combined passenger throughput, including Suvarnabhumi Airport, was four point two five million in February. There were two point six two million international passengers, a fall of twenty one point five percent from the same period last year, and one point six three million domestic passengers, a decrease of nineteen percent.

Total aircraft movements also recorded a steep plunge of nineteen point four percent in February - down to 27,515. The month saw domestic journeys slip by twenty three point one percent to 11,856 while international flights contracted sixteen point four percent to 15,659.

Total flights over the month also fell more steeply than in January. The earlier month saw movements slip fourteen point three percent to 31,239 as impacts from the closure of Bangkok's two main airports in late November and early December continued to be felt, according to figures from Airports of Thailand Plc.

Cumulative January and February passenger throughput was eighteen point two percent lower year-on-year at 8.93 million, consisting of 5.45 million international travellers (down ninteen point seven percent) and 3.48 million domestic passengers (down fifteen point six percent).

Flight movements for January and February contracted sixteen point eight percent to 58,574.

Officials hope the final figures for 2009 will be at last year's levels of 54.4 million passengers and 371,560 flights.

Source - The Bangkok Post