AirAsia today opened discount ticket sales for its new “Paradise to Paradise” service between Phuket and Bali. Discounted tickets can be bought between today and next Sunday (November 14) for flights between December 17 and November 10 next year.

Australian low cost carrier JetStar is celebrating the sixth anniversary of its launch with discounts on a number of routes, including Phuket-Singapore.

Phuket is leading the charge as tourist arrivals into Thailand climb out of the 2009 doldrums.

Bangkok Airways has announced that it will launch a new Phuket–Samui–Trat route on December 2.

Air Bagan, Myanmar’s largest independent airline in terms of the number of aircraft, is to begin flights between the capital of Myanmar, Yangon, and Phuket.

In a promotion that might just be interpreted as a swipe at discount airlines such as AirAsia and its own sibling airline, Nok Air, Thai Airways International (THAI) has announced hefty discounts for passengers flying between Bangkok and Phuket anytime from now until March 31 next year.

AirAsia is giving its load factors a bit of a goosing by offering a 20 percent cut in all fares, across the board. The discount, the airline says, applies to bookings made between now and next Sunday (September 19) for flights made between Monday (September 20) and November 15.

AirAsia is to start direct flights three times a week between Phuket and Ubon Ratchathani. The new service, starting on October 12, will be available on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

There can be little doubt that AirAsia has had an effect on the bottom line at Thai Airways International, offering discounts that the Thai flag carrier has not even tried to match. Now Thai has a plan to fight back.

Travellers to and from Phuket have three more days to book special cheap flights with AirAsia during the period from August 9 to November 15.