Airport passenger stats show slight rise

PHUKET: After a dip in April compared with the previous year, passenger throughput at Phuket International Airport was up again in May by 3.16%, compared with May 2000. Statistics just relaesed show that 253,400 passengers arrived at or departed from the airport compared with 245,634 last May. The number of international passengers rose by 2.65% to 90,269, while the number of passengers on domestic flights increased by 3.45% to 163,131. The rise was significantly smaller than the 17.04% increase between May 1999 and May 2000. Cargo throughput during the month fell compared with May last year. International shipments dropped 11.06% to 723 tonnes, while domestic shipments fell 0.69% to 578 tons.