Thai Airports See December Traffic Surge, Matching 2019 Pre-Pandemic Levels

The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) reports a significant December air travel surge. Daily passenger volumes at Thai airport passenger traffic are nearing pre-pandemic highs. On December 21, 2025, airports handled 479,979 total passengers. This figure is matching 2019 levels, according to CAAT Director Air Chief Marshal Manat Chuanaprayoon.

Traffic Composition and Recovery

The strong daily traffic includes both domestic and international passenger volumes. Specifically, 208,040 domestic and 271,939 international passengers were recorded. However, officials stress that these totals include transit passengers. Transit and departing passengers do not contribute to inbound tourism numbers.

Thailand’s annual foreign tourist arrivals remain challenging. Authorities project 33 million arrivals for 2025. This is a 7% decline compared with 2024 figures.

International recovery shows varying rates by region. Traffic on China and India routes leads the rebound. Flights from India reached 10,616 passengers. This is approximately 10% above pre-pandemic traffic figures. Meanwhile, China routes recovered to 75% of pre-COVID-19 levels.

Managing Peak Holiday Travel Demand

The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand anticipates peak traffic soon. This spike is expected between December 27, 2025, and January 4, 2026. To manage the high holiday travel demand, authorities implemented measures. The Ministry of Transport and CAAT coordinated with airlines. They added 66 special flights on six major domestic routes. This provided an additional 11,312 seats.

Airline and Airport Support

Thai airlines also offered a 30% fare reduction. This covered 36,620 seats across 11 domestic routes. Airports of Thailand (AOT) reduced landing and parking fees. These efforts aim to maintain service readiness.

Daily domestic volumes are highest at key hubs. Don Mueang Airport (DMK) recorded 63,981 daily passengers. Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports are major international hubs. Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) saw 36,499 daily passengers.

Industry Outlook and Challenges

The strong airport activity highlights a complex recovery. While daily airport throughput is high, inbound tourism lags. This distinction is important for the tourism economy.

Regional competition and currency strength pose challenges. The Thai baht has strengthened, increasing traveler costs. Concerns also exist over a planned outbound airport tax hike.

CAAT emphasizes continuous monitoring of operations. They ensure compliance with legal fare ceilings and safety. This robust activity is a positive sign for the aviation sector. It shows strong domestic and international travel interest.

• Daily passenger traffic reached 479,979 on December 21.
• This volume is close to pre-pandemic 2019 levels.
• India routes surpassed pre-COVID figures by 10%.
• CAAT added 66 special flights to meet demand.

For more updates on global air travel, visit our commercial aviation news section. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) continues to track global recovery trends. Major manufacturers like Boeing and international carriers such as Emirates are watching Asian market performance closely.