Thailand’s aviation industry is making steady progress in recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic and the Airports of Thailand Public Co Ltd (AoT) anticipates a full recovery by the end of 2024.
Bangkok (VNA) – Thailand’s aviation industry is making steady progress in recovering from theCOVID-19 pandemic andthe Airports of Thailand PublicCo Ltd (AoT) anticipates a full recovery by the end of 2024.
AoT President Nitinai Sirismatthakarn said on July 25 that this fiscal year(from October 2021 to September 2022) will see the return of about 45 million passengers, both international and domestic, about 33% from the pre-pandemic level.
The number ofpassengers will further increase in the following year with a recovery of 77% of pre-pandemic travel, equivalent to about 96 millionpassengers, and rise to 142million in 2024.
The International CivilAviation Organization and the International Air Transport Association agreewith AoT’s assessment.
The AoT President said that they are ready once the travel restrictions arelifted to operate completely, but the same cannot be said of all cargowarehouses, ground services and even some airlines.
The aviation industry was among the hardest hit by COVID-19.Many aviation businesses were forced to slash the number of flights and routesby half in cost-cutting efforts, making it difficult to bounce back immediatelywhen there is high demand from customers.
AoT says they expect a lossthis year but a return to profitability for the airline industry and relatedbusinesses eventually in 2023, but that still depends on the performance ofmany sectors, and whether key demographics like Chinese tourists are inThailand./.
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Illustrative image (Source: fl360aero.com) 
