Taking off: Passenger charges soar at six major Thai airports

Passenger service charges (PSC) at six major Thai airports have seen an increase, as announced by the Airports of Thailand Plc. The charges, applicable on both domestic and international departing flights, have been raised at Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Don Mueang, Hat Yai, Phuket and Suvarnabhumi airports.

For international flights, the fees have been increased from 700 to 730 baht, while for domestic flights, a rise from 100 to 130 baht has been implemented.

AOT President Kerati Kijmanawat announced the change today, April 1, explaining that the increase in the service charge would cover the cost of AOT’s Common Use Passenger Processing System (CUPPS). The CUPPS includes automatic services such as Common Use Terminal Equipment (CUTE), which handles boarding passes, Common-Use Self Service (CUSS) for airport check-ins, and Common Use Bag Drop (CUBD).

In related news, the General Manager of Don Mueang International Airport, Wichit Kaewsaitiam, has forecasted a significant surge in traffic through the Bangkok airport during the Songkran festival, taking place from April 11 to 17.

It is predicted that Don Mueang Airport will serve 89,362 travellers daily during this period, marking an increase of 14.81% compared to the previous year. Moreover, the airport is expected to handle 590 flights each day, a rise of 10.58%.

Last week, to enhance passenger convenience and elevate service standards, the Airports of Thailand (AoT) unveiled the latest addition to Suvarnabhumi Airport: Grab taxi services.

Positioned at Gate 4 on the first floor of the terminal, the newly inaugurated Grab service centre stands ready to cater to passengers around the clock, announced AoT Director Kirati Kitmanawat.

Echoing Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin’s vision to propel Suvarnabhumi into the echelons of the world’s top 20 airports, Kirati highlighted the strategic move as a testament to AoT’s commitment to fostering seamless transport connectivity.

This initiative follows AoT’s successful collaborations with Grab at Don Mueang, Chiang Mai, and Phuket airports. Kirati underscored the significance of this partnership.