Thailand’s air regulator has come out in support of the nation’s airlines, insisting there is no price gouging as the country’s South grapples with travel disruption amid ‘historic’ flooding in many provinces.
Passengers have complained domestic airlines have bumped up fares for flights from Bangkok to the south.
"We have monitored airfares and found that no airline was setting prices higher than the ceiling level, which meant there is nothing wrong with airfares. Those who book last-minute will definitely pay higher prices," Chula Sukmanop, director-general of the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT).
Flooding caused the closure of Nakorn Si Thammarat Airport, which Chula said may reopen tomorrow, Thursday.
Thai Smile Airways, Nok Air, Thai AirAsia, and Thai Loin Air operate on the Bangkok- Nakorn Si Thammarat route.
Ittirit Kinglake, president of the Tourism Council of Thailand said the flooding should only cause a temporary blip to tourism, with most travellers going ahead with plans to visit popular tourist areas.
"The inundation will not hit tourism in other destinations for long including Phuket, Krabi and Koh Samui ," Ittirit said.
