Landing at new hub: Phuket?

Strategic Airlines To Take Off In Phuket is an article from: Phuket Observer - Phuket lifestyle magazine.

More Indian tourists in paradise

Thai AirAsia plans to start direct flights between Phuket and Kolkata [ formerly Calcutta] by mid-2012.

The Thai airline, part of the rapidly expanding, Malaysian based AirAsia low cost carrier group, has established an office in Kolkata based on figures showing 45 percent of passengers flying from Kolkata to Thailand came to Phuket.

In 2010 there were 24 direct weekly flights between Kolkata and Bangkok. the Thai AirAsia service will substantially increase Indian tourists to the island.

Also in 2010 Phuket hosted several large scale Indian weddings at 5-star hotels. The Tourism Authority of Thailand [TAT] is targeting Indian weddings as a rich source of tourist income as they often attract more than 500 people flown in from Indian for the occasion.

The TAT’s Mumbai [ formerly Bombay] office, for example, teamed with wedding organizer Red Events India Pvt Ltd to organise up to 400 Indian couples to get married in Thailand in 2010.

Indian couples like Thailand to get married in as it is renowned for its sense of grace and style, following customs and ceremonies rich in the Buddhist culture.

Secluded resorts, like those on Phuket and places like Khao Lak, are favoured. Indian weddings are lavish, glittering affairs. Last year the up-market Banyan Tree Phuket hosted the wedding of a Nagpur industrialist with 700 guests flying in for the occasion.

Another wedding, at the JW Marriott, Khao Lak Resort near Phuket was followed by a white wedding a the Laguna Wedding Chapel on Phuket.  When looking for a venue Indian wedding planners only look at the top level of hotels like Banyan Tree, the Sheraton, Le Meridien, JW Marriott and, for that completely different setting, the up-market Indigo Pearl Resort with its quirky, John Underwood sculptures and designs.

In 2009 Thailand had 614,000 Indian visitors, a 14.45 percent increase over the previous year.

In 2010 there were 125 direct weekly flights between Bangkok and major Indian cities, including Kolkata [24], Delhi [41], Mumbai [40], Bangalore [7], Hyderabad [4], Madras/Chennai [7] and Bagdogra [2] on airlines like Thai Airways International, Indian Airlines, Air India, Cathay Pacific Airways, Royal Bhutan Airlines, Jet Airways, Kingfisher Airlines and Air India Express.

Thai AirAsia to start direct Kolkata-Phuket flights next year is an article from: Phuket Observer - Phuket lifestyle magazine.

Watch out for the Tiger!

The February signing of an agreement between Thai Airways International [THAI] and Tiger Airways of Singapore brings the prospect of a new airline called Thai Tiger Airways, flying internally between Bangkok and Phuket, a step closer.

At present Tiger Airways services Phuket with direct flights from Singapore, but the new carrier would have the ability to fly within Thailand once it becomes a reality.

Thai Tiger Airways would become a more direct–and formidable–low cost carrier [LCC] competitor to the ever expanding and somewhat dominant AirAsia and its Thailand subsidiary, Thai AirAsia, which has 19 daily flights between Bangkok and Phuket.

THAI currently operates 13 daily flights, but these are full service flights with higher fares than the competing LCC.

Phuket, in fact, is the lynchpin for the new carrier given its huge tourism importance. Thai Tiger Airways could service the island from Singapore, as it does now, but also from the north. Nok Air, a subsidiary of THAI, and Thai AirAsia would be the main competitors on the Phuket-Bangkok route.

THAI will have a 49% of the paid-up share capital in the new airline. The deal has been subject to considerable political opposition, but THAI President Piyasvasti Amranand is determined that it will go through so THAI can have more flexibility in managing the onslaught from the LCC competition in South East Asia.

Thai Tiger Airways Agreement Should Benefit Phuket is an article from: Phuket Observer - Phuket lifestyle magazine.

Thai Airways fares are coming down

Thai Airways International has reduced domestic air fares to Phuket by 15 percent between 15 March and 30 September “low” season to make it more competitive with low cost carriers [LCC]  like Thai AirAsia and Nok Air.

THAI will, however, remain more expensive than such competitors. For example, its economy saver fare will be B6560 compared to B4877 for Thai AirAsia and B5344 for Nok Air but cheaper than boutique airline Bangkok Airways at B6590.

These air fares are the basic economy fares and include taxes and fees. The difference in price will vary according to the type of fare.

The fare reduction is in marked contrast to a 59 percent increase in fares in April, 2010 when THAI was experiencing considerable economic turbulence. The huge increase was also severely criticized by people in Phuket.

The change is recognition of the impact LCCs like Thai AirAsia have had on THAI, which is seeking to revamp its entire fleet and service with the goal of regaining its long lost position as one of the world’s top airlines.

THAI has an advantage over the other airlines because of its frequency. It flies 10 daily Bangkok-Phuket and 13 Phuket-Bangkok flights compared to Thai AirAsia’s eight daily flights and two for Nok Air. It also flies larger aircraft, often a four engined Boeing 747 Jumbo jet, which is an onward flight picking up transit passengers at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok. The other carriers fly smaller B737 or Airbus A320 aircraft.

At the same time as THAI is attacking it, Thai AirAsia has also announced plans to buy 20 new aircraft and develop Phuket as a domestic and international hub. The airline plans to expand its network to Laos, the Philippines and India.

Phuket is already Thai AirAsia’s second hub after Bangkok.

Thai Airways to reduce Phuket airfares is an article from: Phuket Observer - Phuket lifestyle magazine.

Tea or coffee?

The Thailand airline industry is about to expand with four new start-up airlines, one of them to service Phuket, and possibly others.

Crystal Thai Airlines, a Thai-Korean joint venture, plans to fly to Phuket using a 174 seat, Airbus A320 aircraft, as well as international destinations like Dubai, Mubai, India, Bhutan and Incheon, South Korean and Clark Airport in the Philippines.

The other three airlines are all charter flights. While they have not specifically announced flights to Phuket yet, they could well in the future, given the importance of the island’s to Thailand tourism.

They are: Kan Air, a small domestic carrier flying a 12-seat Cessna turbo prop 208 Grand Caravan out of Chiang Mai; PC Air, which will fly a 228 seat A310 aircraft to ports in Japan and Korea; and Sunny Airways, which will fly a 200-224 seat Boeing B767-200ER on charter flights from Europe and Russia and around Asia to Thailand.

The start-ups signal a healthy increase in Thailand’s airline competition, particularly in the charter section. Charter’s comprised 16 percent of international flights to Phuket in 2010, with that year having a 64 percent increase over 2009.

The interesting aspect of the new carriers, is that they are boldly targeting international destinations around Asia, in particular.

With  visitors to Phuket out of China, South Korea and the Middle East increasing 44 percent in 2010, this indicates extreme confidence that this type of charter passenger traffic will continue to grow.

And, in that inevitable offbeat Thai touch, one of the airlines, PC Air, has already made international headlines by announcing it will hire the world’s first ladyboy flight attendants.

Four New Thai Airlines, At Least One To Phuket is an article from: Phuket Observer - Phuket lifestyle magazine.

V Australia leaves on 25 February

Australia full service carrier, Strategic Airlines, starts its twice-weekly service between Melbourne and Phuket on February 22, three days before another Australia carrier, V Australia, comes off the same route on 25 February.

Strategic’s two class, full service, 274 seat Airbus A330-200 aircraft will depart Melbourne at 11am and arrive at Phuket International Airport at 3.50pm local time. Returning it will depart at 6.50pm and land at Melbourne at 7.25am local time the following morning.

The airline is offering luanch fares of A$598 round-trip, inclusive of taxes and fees. Fares went on sale on November 24 through its website www.flystrategic.com and travel agents.

Fares are available for travel from Melbourne to Phuket from February 22.

V Australia launched  twice weekly full service flights from Brisbane in November, 2009 and one a week from Melbourne in December, 2009 using a 361 seat Boeing 777-300 aircraft but announced last yea,r in a major shake-up of its route structure, that the route was uneconomical.

Strategic is a very new airline, launched in September 2009 but has steadily expanded its network to include niche domestic and international routes, such as Perth-Derby-Denpasar in Bali and Brisbane-Port Hedland-Denpasar.

Strategic’s entry onto the Phuket route fills a large gap left by the popular V Australia, part of Richard Branson’s ever expanding Virgin Group, but Virgin still services Phuket direct through its low cost carrier, Pacific Blue, which started weekly flights in November, 2009.

With Perth only six and a half hours from Phuket this is a popular route for Australians coming here, particularly during the Phuket low season when thousands of Aussies escape their winter to Phuket and Bali.

Meanwhile another carrier directly servicing Phuket, Singapore based Tiger Airways, has struck political and bureaucratic turbulence in its bid to form a partnership with Thai Airways International.

This is a pity as Tiger offers a good range of alternative low cost routes for people on Phuket compared to the full service carriers, and even some of its LCC competitors.

It flies from Phuket, via Singapore to both Darwin and Perth in Australia; from Phuket to Padang in Indonesia, via Singapore and direct flights to Singapore. Under the proposed deal it would also be able to fly domestically. This would add to the number of flights to Phuket from Bangkok.

Tiger Airways is prepared to wait out the hiccups to forming the THAI partnership, which are focused on its ownership by Temasek, the Singapore government investment arm, and the right to fly domestically, which is still reserved for Thai carriers.

Strategic lands here on 22 February.

Strategic Airlines Arrives in Phuket on 22 February is an article from: Phuket Observer - Phuket lifestyle magazine.

Thai is now offering cheap weekend flights for provincials to visit the capital.

Thai Airways International has launched two domestic fare promotions — “Travel with Dad” and “Visit Bangkok Special Fare”.

Travel with Dad – to celebrate the birthday of HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej on December 5, which is also Father’s Day in Thailand – is valid for bookings made anytime in December through THAI’s contact centre, for flights in Decfember and January. The deals are for at least two people travelling together on both sectors. The Bangkok-Phuket round-trip fare will be B4,700.

The other campaign, Visit Bangkok, is aimed at attracting people living in the provinces to fly to the capital on Friday or Saturday, returning on Sunday. The offer expires March 31, 2011. The round-trip Phuket-Bangkok fare for this promotion is B4,900.

For more information call the Thai Contact Centre at +66 (0) 2356 1111 or visit www.thaiairways.com

Thai Airways offers domestic fare promotions in December is an article from: Phuket Observer - Phuket lifestyle magazine.

Mahan Air Airbus A300-600. Photo by Arpingstone.

Iranian airline Mahan Air will begin a non-stop service from Tehran to Phuket from December 6. Initially, the service will be weekly but Mahan Air says it will increase flights to twice weekly as soon as the required government permits are obtained. Mahan already operates six flights a week to Bangkok.

The carrier will fly the route using a 243-seat Airbus A300-600 in a two-class configuration. Initially, flights will leave Tehran at 21:30 on Monday and arriving in Phuket the following morning at 09:00. The return flight will leave Phuket at 22:40 on Tuesday, arriving back in Tehran at 03:10 Wednesday.

Iran is a rapidly growing source of visitors to Thailand. Immigration statistics show that from  January to September this year, 136,576 Iranians entered Thailand, an increase of 72.7% over the same period in 2009. About 114,100 were identified as tourists, an increase of 63.3%.

Mahan Air to start direct Tehran-Phuket flights in December is an article from: Phuket Observer - Phuket lifestyle magazine.

Kids fly kites at sundown on Kuta Beach, Bali.

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.

Official fares are B2,530 each way but, as usual, there are dynamic discounted prices, changing from moment to moment. Book right now and you can expect to pay around B1,490 (including  taxes) from Phuket to Bali, and around B1,890 in the other direction.

AirAsia already has flights between Bali and Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Jakarta, Singapore, Bandung and Perth, Australia. The new Phuket-Bali service will operate daily. The airline recently bought three new Airbus A320s, one of which is now based in Phuket flying the Hong Kong route. It is understood that it will be used also on the Bali route.

AirAsia opens ticket sales for Phuket-Bali flights is an article from: Phuket Observer - Phuket lifestyle magazine.

JetStar Airbus A320.

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

The fares – for seat and carry-on luggage only – include a low B799 each way between Phuket and Singapore. Others are Bangkok-Singapore B1,299, Bangkok-Singapore-Jakarta B1,299 and Bangkok-Singapore-Bali B1,761.

The discounted Phuket-Singapore tickets are for flights during the following periods: 11 Jan – 26 Jan 2011, 15 Feb – 9 Mar 2011 and 22 Mar – 25 May 2011. The discounts on the other routes are available only for the 22 Mar – 25 May 2011 period.

To book, go here

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JetStar cuts Singapore-Phuket fares to celebrate its birthday is an article from: Phuket Observer - Phuket lifestyle magazine.