Big increases in BKK airport arrivals for 2018 Songkran

Nearly 7 percent additional passengers flew into Suvarnabhumi Airport and 12 percent into Don Mueang this year to celebrate the Songkran festival, compared to last year’s passenger traffic.

The Immigration Bureau deputy spokesman Pol Colonel Choengron Rimpadee says that 683,260 passengers arrived at Suvarnabhumi Airport from April 12 and 16.

“The number marks a 6.96 per cent increase from Songkran 2017. Of these air passengers, 192,489 were Thais,” he said.

Choengron said 234,600 passengers arrived at Don Mueang Airport during the five-day Songkran period. Of them, 79,383 were Thais.

“The number of passengers at Don Mueang Airport saw a 12 per cent rise”.

Choengron said that Don Mueang Airport, located in Bangkok’s Don Muang district north of the city, mostly handles low-cost airliners and chartered flights. These flight services have gained much popularity in recent years.

According to Choengron, despite the huge number of air passengers, immigration officials were able to work well during the Songkran period judging by the fact that there had been no complaints about their work or services.

During the Songkran period, immigration officials rejected entry to about 30 air passengers. Officials also arrested seven passengers. Two of them were detained on charges of carrying fake passports. Five others were nabbed because they were on the wanted list.