THAILAND TRAVEL NEWS: The conclusion of a six year, Bt2 billion (about $US61 million) expansion project at Chiang Mai International Airport means the Northern Thailand city is now well positioned to capitalize on future air travel growth to the region.

Commenced in 2004, well prior to the dramatic downturn in air travel experienced in 2009, the work has seen passenger capacity increased by 166 percent from the previous level of three million passengers per year to eight million – including processing facilities for two million international travelers.

Eight international and six domestic airlines currently operate more than 500 flights per week through Chiang Mai, and executives of Airports of Thailand (AoT), operators of Chiang Mai International Airport, are confident the completion of the expansion works will attract a greater number of flights and tourists.

Ironically, as works on upgrading the airport have progressed, passenger numbers have declined to the point that they are now below the airports original rating.

In the financial year to September 2009, passenger numbers dropped by 12.3 percent over 2008 to 2.87 million, while flight movements dropped by almost 10 percent to 22,882. Air cargo tonnage also declined over the same period, with the amount of cargo passing through the airport in 2009 down by 21.5 percent over 2008, to 17.617 metric tons (about 19,400 tons).

Chiang Mai International Airport general manager, Wisit Eiwprapha, said that while the downturn experienced last year could not have been envisaged when the project began, the works are an investment that provides the airport with an attractive offering to present to international airlines into making Chiang Mai a destination.

By John Le Fevre

Thailand Travel news for March 12, 2010