CAAT predicts 68% drop in passenger numbers this year
The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) expects passenger numbers in 2020 to plummet 68 per cent year on year to 52.8 million, due to the Covid-19 impact, said director-general Chula Sukmanop.
Of the total, 36.7 million are expected to be domestic passengers, down 51.8 per cent from 76.2 million last year.
International arrivals are expected to number 16.1 million, falling 81.8 per cent from 88.8 million last year.
The CAAT chief expects travel to return to normalcy in 2023.
Many airlines have adjusted to the virus fallout by seeking ways to boost revenue from domestic routes.
Nitinai Sirismatthakarn, president of Airports of Thailand, which operates six international airports, said the AOT has only Bt40 billion liquidity left, falling from Bt70 billion prior to the outbreak.
The AOT is waiting to see if the aviation situation improves in next two years on the expectation that a Covid vaccine will be available by April next year.
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