SECURITY RAMPED UP AT DON MUEANG AIRPORT AHEAD OF SONGKRAN

SECURITY RAMPED UP AT DON MUEANG AIRPORT AHEAD OF SONGKRAN

Security measures are being tightened at Bangkok’s Don Mueang as the airport expects a surge in passenger numbers over the Songkran holiday.

More than 625,000 passengers are expected through the airport during the April 11 – 17 holiday period. This is a 14.81% increase when compared to Songkran last year. Don Mueang, Bangkok’s international airport before Suvarnabhumi opened in 2006, has become the home for most of the low-cost carriers, domestic and international.

Wichit Kaewsaitiam, director of the Don Mueang Airport, says tourism stimulus measures introduced by the government have led to an increase in travel over the Thai New Year holiday.

This year, the airport is expecting around 89,362 passengers per day from an average of 590 flights, a 10.58% increase on last year’s figures. In total, Don Mueang’s runways will handle 1,685 international flights and 2,432 domestic flights over the Songkran holiday.

Security measures are being ramped up and will include patrols carried out by guards, military police, officers from Don Mueang Police Station, and specially-trained K-9 dogs.

Traffic density will be monitored through the REAL-TIME Passenger Tracking System, while traffic control officers will be on duty in parking areas to ensure the smooth flow of vehicles entering and leaving the airport.

The free parking area has been extended and the airport can now offer a total of 3,258 parking spaces during Songkran.

Yesterday, Airports of Thailand raised passenger service charges at Don Mueang and Thailand’s 5 other main airports. The charges, which are included in airfares, have risen from 700 to 730 baht for international flights and from 100 to 130 baht for domestic flights