Panel okays rise in domestic airfares
The Transport Ministry's civil aviation committee has approved increases to domestic airfares averaging 12 per cent, due to the increased cost of fuel.
Transport Minister Pongsak Ruktapongpisal said yesterday that operators of small aircraft with fewer than 19 seats, flying distances less than 200km and with poor land transport links may increase fares by Bt20 per km. Other types of aircraft may adjust their fares by no more than Bt17 per km. Airlines with services covering more than 200km are allowed to increase fares from the current Bt8 per km to Bt10 per km, while aircraft carrying agricultural products will be allowed to increase charges by half the current rate. "So far, these are approved charges. The [actual] increases depend on the airlines," Pongsak said. The committee also approved increased air traffic control fees charged by Aerothai Co for flights in and out of Suvarnabhumi Airport. The fees will rise from US$712 (Bt26,580) to US$899 (Bt33,593) per flight, as the company has invested in new facilities at the airport. As a result, the air traffic control charge at Suvarnabhumi will be lower than in Hong Kong, Vietnam and Indonesia, but higher than in Singapore and Malaysia. Pongsak said the civil aviation committee also approved increases in airlines' fuel surcharges from the current rate of Bt22 per kg to Bt29 per kg. Watcharapong Thongrung, The Nation
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