THAILAND TRAVEL NEWS: The government-owned Airports of Thailand (AoT), operators of Bangkok International Airport and five others, has blamed the political unrest earlier this year for a third quarter loss of Bt516.23 million (about $US16.264 million).

However, a closer examination of the Aot figures show that passenger traffic through AoT-operated airports dropped by only 0.31 percent in the April to June period, while the numbers of aircraft and cargo movements rose 5.86 percent and 31.68 percent, respectively.

The largest loss during the period appears to have been a foreign exchange loss of Bt742.87 million ($23.404 m) – versus a profit for the same period last year of Bt260.05 million ($8.193 m) – blamed by the AoT on a stronger Japanese yen.

Also contributing to the loss was a relief package comprising lower landing and parking fees extended by AoT to airlines, along with reduced charges to tenants and service providers at airports.

Supaporn Burapakusolsri, AoT senior executive vice-president for planning and finance, said the relief measures decreased AoT’s operating income from the same period last year by Bt111.53 million ($3.513 m), a 17.23 percent drop to Bt5.27 billion ($166.036 m) while combined operating expenses were Bt4.73 billion ($149 m). The Q3 loss by AoT compares to a Bt1.31 billion ($41.272 m) profit for the same period in 2009.

By John Le Fevre

Thailand Travel News for August 18, 2010