Thailand: Aviation growth soars past average

Thailand is enjoying the highest aviation growth in the world, the state-owned Aeronautical Radio of Thailand says. Thailand's annual growth rate puts it at the top of the list of countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean). The region's aviation growth rate is higher than the global average, Aerothai president Sarinee Saangprasit said. This is the position Thailand must maintain by means of "cooperation" rather than competition with Asean countries that are tipped to have high growth rates in the future, she said. According to Aerothai, the country's annual aviation growth rate has been between 10% and 13%, about two times higher than the regional average of 6.3% in Asean. The numbers are very high, especially when compared with the annual global average of 6.3%, he said. Thailand has the highest share of air traffic volume in the region, with 28%, followed by Singapore with 25%. However, it is expected that Myanmar and Vietnam will be next in line for high growth owing to their dense populations, growing economies and thriving tourism industries. <br/>