Discounted domestic flights for Songkran announced by CAAT

The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) announced that a discount of roughly 20% will be applied to early morning and late-night domestic flights during the Songkran holiday. This move is aimed at providing an economical travel option for all holidaymakers.

Sarun Benjanirat, the deputy director-general of CAAT, disclosed today, March 11, that the initiative is in response to the call by Transport Minister Suriya Juangruangreangkit for reduced airfares during holiday and festive periods.

As part of this initiative, six airlines have scheduled an additional 104 flights, which will provide 17,874 extra seats on April 11, 12, 15, and 16. These flights will be scheduled outside ordinary hours, either early in the morning or late at night, to attract travellers with lower fares. The discount is expected to be around 20%, offering an affordable solution for Songkran travel, according to Benjanirat.

These additional flights will serve routes to Phuket, Chiang Mai, Samui, Ubon Ratchathani, Udon Thani, and Khon Kaen. Benjanirat added that reservations could be made in advance via the airlines’ websites, which should be prepared to accept bookings from Tuesday onwards, reported Bangkok Post.

The extra flights would be outside normal flight hours, either in the early morning or late at night, and these fares would be lowered to attract travellers. The discount would be around 20% and be offered as an economical option for Songkran travel, he said.

In related news, Thai AirAsia responded to calls for airfare reductions, citing increased operational costs during the pandemic. They proposed adding more flights during the Songkran festival to manage fares.

The airline emphasised adjusting prices based on route demand and seasonality, rejecting the idea of minimum pricing. Thai AirAsia aims for 15-20% revenue growth, planning to expand its fleet and routes.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand is considering new pricing regulations to accommodate all airlines, expected to roll out later this year.