Cargo, passenger and aircraft traffic through Thailand’s six main airports continued to decline in April as political turmoil heightened by rioting in Bangkok further added to the slowdown already in process due the global economic crisis.

Total cargo volumes in the month shrank 26 per cent to 82,727 tonnes year on year, while passenger throughput fell 12 per cent to 4.43 million pax and aircraft movements fell 10 per cent to 30,433, according to statistics compiled by Airports of Thailand Plc (AoT).

International air cargo movements fell 26.5 per cent to 75,702 tonnes with domestic tonnage dropping 19 per cent to 7,025. International passenger traffic fell 13 per cent to 2.73 million and domestic throughput contracted 10.7 per cent to 1.7 million.

At Thailand’s key Suvarnabhumi airport cargo dropped 24.7 per cent to 78,718 tonnes and passenger throughput fell 3.4 per cent to 3.41 million, comprising 2.53 million international (down 13.6 per cent) and 884,413 domestic travelers (up 46 per cent).

Figures for May were expected to be worse due to the additional adverse factor of the H1N1 influenza, deterring air traffic demand, while the weak economy would restrict cargo movements, analysts said.

The outlook for May was for a further deterioration as a result of an additional adverse factor, the H1N1 influenza, while the continuing weak economy wouldcontinue to restrict cargo movements.