Airport passenger traffic down 8pc

PHUKET: The number of passengers arriving or departing through Phuket International Airport in October is down 8.19% from the figure for the same period last year. Statistics released by airport officials show that passenger throughput was 259,889, compared with 283,062 in October last year. However, the figures show an 8.01% improvement over September, which saw 239,060 passengers arrive or depart from the airport. The number of passengers using international flights was 85,834, a drop of 13.17% over last year’s figure of 98,852. The number of passengers using domestic flights also decreased, by 5.51%, to 174,055. International cargo throughput fell 14.96% to 762 tons, but domestic shipments rose to 820 tons, an increase of 28.13% over the same period last year.