Squadron-Leader Pornchai Eua-aree, director of Phuket International Airport and Airports Authority of Thailand, said that the number of travellers through the airport had fallen 64.4 per cent.

The number of international passengers has plunged 88.81 per cent, and that for domestic passengers is down 42.43 per cent compared to the same period last year.

This month it is expected that passenger traffic will be down 51.19 per cent compared to the same period last year with the number of international passengers likely to show a 67.67-per-cent fall and domestic travellers a 40.32-per-cent drop.

Total air passenger traffic in January was down 26.74 per cent. Domestic air traffic was down 12.16 per cent, and international air traffic recorded a 54.59-per-cent drop compared to the same period last year.

This month the total number of passengers is down 31.66 per cent. Domestic air traffic is down 16.48 per cent while international air traffic is down 41.4 per cent compared to the same period last year.

Overall passenger traffic this year is likely to be substantially less than the 4.5 million recorded last year, even though before the tsunami disaster the airport had forecast that the number passengers this year would show a 30-per-cent increase from 2004.

Meanwhile, Suvarnabhumi International Airport has decided to select only one applicant to lease 20,000 square metres of commercial space in the new airport, excluding the duty-free area, which has already been allocated to the King Power International Group.

Bancha Pattanaporn, acting president of the Airports Authority of Thailand, said there were 15 investors in the bidding. Bids will be opened on February 25, and the authority will select the winning bid in March.