Virgin at it again: Perth-Phuket direct flights
All ready to Tuk Tuk off to Phuket: Pacific Blue's aircraft are red. Go figure. - Photo by D O'Neil
Virgin Blue has announced that its international subsidiary, Pacific Blue Airlines, will launch direct flights from Perth to Phuket from November 14.
The carrier will provide the only direct flights, twice a week, from Perth, providing “a perfect option for a long weekend escape, an extended honeymoon or romantic rendezvous, a boys’ cheeky week/girls’ getaway or a family-style holiday”, the airline says in jovial fashion, referring to its service as “Tuk Tuk off to Phuket”. That’s a joke, we think.
Virgin Blue says it took the decision to direct one of its modern Boeing 737-800 aircraft on to the route following a trend for travellers to take holidays closer to home in places where “they can get more bang for their buck”. Another jovial quip, we think.
A launch fare of A$299 one-way is on sale from now until midnight, August 26, for travel on direct flights between Perth and Phuket from November 14 to December 12, and January 26 to March 30 next year. The return flight is currently cheaper – around A$270, though that will change, no doubt. Standard fares for the service will start at around A$399 each way. The flights will leave Perth on Tuesdays and Saturdays, returning on Wednesdays and Sundays.
Virgin Blue Chief Executive, Brett Godfrey, said, “We are pleased to be making one of Thailand’s holiday hot spots a convenient destination and affordable option for West Australian travellers.
“While West Australians are used to having Bali in their backyard, Phuket has been out of reach, not just because of no direct service but price also. All that has now changed. This new destination for WA provides a whole different cultural and culinary holiday experience.”
Virgin Blue will closely monitor demand for the new Phuket flights to determine future schedules and frequencies based on support for the new services.
For further information on fares and schedules, visit the parent airline’s website.
[...] increasing number of airlines, especially from Australia, are flying direct to Phuket. See here and here for earlier [...]