Air transport authorities have allowed foreign airlines to carry passengers to a third country as an incentive to keep carriers flying through Thailand. Granting of "fifth freedom", the right to carry passengers from an airline's own country to Thailand, and from here to a third country, is also aimed at sustaining Suvarnabhumi's hub status.The right extended by the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) is "temporary" at a time when the industry is facing a sharp downturn caused by the global economic recession.

Airlines are also facing intense pressure to cut back services through Thailand because of recent political unrest and now the H1N1 flu pandemic concern.

Fifth freedom allows an airline to create additional revenue on a third-country sector, said Kannikar Kemavuthanon, the DCA director-general.

However, until now no international airlines had taken up the fifth-freedom offer due to the downturn in the industry.

But no airlines have stopped flying to Thailand and there have been no reports of substantial cuts in frequencies either.

The DCA and Airports of Thailand are also reducing landing and parking fees to woo airlines.

International passenger traffic through Suvarnabhumi fell 17.9% in the first quarter to 7.66 million, according to AoT. Aircraft movements shrank 11.95% to 45,009 as travel demand was depressed by the global economic slump.