BANGKOK, THAILAND – Thailand’s aviation regulator expected fewer flights after Songkran as jet fuel prices jumped and off-season demand weakened.
CAAT monitors fallout from Middle East conflict
The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) said it monitored the impact of the war in the Middle East on Thailand’s aviation sector. According to the agency, the conflict had led to a clear increase in jet fuel prices.
Despite higher costs, domestic flights were still operating normally. The authority stressed that operations were not fundamentally restricted at that moment.
Schedule adjustments expected after Songkran
Following the peak travel period around Songkran, CAAT expected airlines to gradually adjust their operations. It cited rising fuel costs and weaker off-season demand as the main drivers.
The regulator also pointed to early signs that some international airlines had already reduced frequencies. This suggested a possible consolidation of routes and flight times in the coming period.
Ticket prices, dynamic fares and booking advice
Airlines maintained ticket availability through dynamic pricing and coordinated measures within the industry, CAAT stated. It said travellers who booked early could still find comparatively inexpensive fares.
Passengers were advised to buy tickets directly from the airlines to gain clearer information on prices and conditions. This was intended to avoid misunderstandings over fees and rebooking rules.
Pre-Songkran discounts on 11 domestic routes
Ahead of the holiday rush, CAAT worked with six airlines to cut fares on 11 domestic routes by 15 to 30 percent. In addition, almost 30,000 seats were made available to ease travel pressure.
Most of the cheapest tickets had since sold out due to strong holiday demand. Many travellers therefore increasingly questioned how affordable air travel would remain during peak periods.
MP criticises high fares and calls for structural steps
Democrat Party MP Karn Tangpong warned that ticket prices on some routes had risen sharply during the holidays. As an example, he cited a one-way flight to his home province Trang that at times cost 5,000 to 6,000 baht.
“He called on the government to introduce structural measures to lower costs and ease the burden on the public.”
said Karn Tangpong, Democrat MP.
The debate over possible fare caps, capacity levels and underlying cost factors was therefore expected to intensify. Lawmakers and the public were likely to keep pressing for solutions to contain peak-season airfares.