Bangkok airport at capacity, says industry

Bangkok airport at capacity, says industry

Bangkok’s main airport is bursting at the seams according to the aviation industry, which is urging authorities not to grant any more licences to use the facility.

“Authorities should come to their senses and realise Suvarnabhumi (International Airport) can no longer accommodate more flights beyond the current level,” said Louis Moser, chairman of the Airline Operators Committee.

“We know it’s a painful decision,” he told the Bangkok Post.

A record 52.4 million passengers passed through the airport from the start of the year through September, up 12.7 per cent from last year and exceeding official capacity by 17 per cent.

Suvarnabhumi has no restrictions on flights landed per hour.

During peak times, the airport serves 11,000 passengers per hour, compared to 4400 passengers off-peak.

The tourism ministry in May suggested a plan to restrict flights based on each airport’s capacity.

The shift of some airlines’ operations to Bangkok’s old airport, Don Mueang, to ease congestion is voluntary and is popular among low-cost and domestic flights.

The overcrowding is expected to worsen during the peak tourist season beginning later this month.

Suvarnabhumi Airport opened in September 2006.

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