Airports of Thailand (AOT) has released details of the impact Covid-19 has had on traffic numbers through its six airports (Suvarnabhumi Airport, Don Mueang International Airport, Chiang Mai International Airport, Hat Yai International Airport, Phuket International Airport and Mae Fah Luang-Chiang Rai International Airport).
In a board of directors meeting held on June 17, it was reported that during fiscal year 2020, AOT expects a total of 491,900 flights and 69.04 million passengers to pass through its facilities. This represents a 45.1% and 51.3% decline in growth rates, respectively, compared with 2019.
It predicts that domestic air traffic volume will start to continuously recover in August 2020 until it returns to normal (2019) levels by October 2022. It is therefore expected that in fiscal year 2022, AOT will see a total of 761,800 flights and 108.87 million passengers, a 15.0% and 23.3% decline relative to 2019.
It will not be until 2023 that numbers exceed those of 2019, with the group hoping for a total of 902,200 flights and 144.20 million, representing a modest growth (0.7% and 1.6% respectively). It adds the caveat that this prediction is based on there being issues surrounding second waves of Covid-19 in some countries, which may necessitate measures such as quarantine be reintroduced.
It is also confident that a vaccine will be available by mid-2021, which will aid economic recovery.
The group suggests that it will see a halving of its revenues in 2020, with 2021 faring little better (-42.21%) compared with 2019.