Stories tagged with flights
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Nok Air suspends flights to Phuket
In another blow to Phuket’s tourism industry, Thai low-fare carrier Nok Air has announced it is suspending all of its flights to the resort island for the indefinite future. With Thailand’s tourism high season kicking off in November, this is bad news for both travellers and industry operators.
Nok Air’s Chief Executive Officer told the Phuket Gazette by email that “we have suspended flights to Phuket for this month. We will resume [flying to] Phuket in the very near future after we have arranged our new TPI [timetable planning] for the coming high season.”
Fortunately for Phuket, Nok Air is eager to resume flights as soon as passenger demand returns to profitable levels. Beach town Patong’s Phuket Carnival, which happens on 1 November is the unofficial start of the island’s high season.
With Thailand’s other budget carrier One-Two-Go still grounded by the Civil Aviation Authority until October, there are fewer flights than ever to Phuket. Travellers can always take a VIP bus to the island, however, and a number of flights still operate out of Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi International Airport.
Posted by: Andrew on 19 Sep 2008, 10:38 -
Thai Airways drops flight to New Zealand
In a move that has shocked New Zealand’s tourism industry, Thai Airways announced a move to terminate its direct flight between Bangkok and Auckland as of October 2008. Thai Airways stated the decision was based on high fuel prices that have made the long-haul route unprofitable.
Damien O’Conner, New Zealand’s Minister of Tourism, issued an official statement condemning the move as a huge blow to tourism between the two countries. ''The flights have been very popular with New Zealanders holidaying in Thailand with more than 37,000 New Zealand citizens using these flights last year, fuelling healthy growth for the tourism sector in Thailand,'' he said.
New Zealand is also concerned that the termination of the flight from Bangkok will reduce the number of international travellers who use Bangkok as a hub for connecting flights. ''Europeans passing through Bangkok on their way to New Zealand have increased by a phenomenal 110% since 2005. There is also a high potential for growth in traffic from India to New Zealand via Bangkok,'' O’Conner stated.
The airline is also stopping its daily direct Bangkok-Los Angeles flight as of October. THAI will continue, however, to operate other existing flights to both Auckland and Los Angeles using a stopover.
Posted by: Andrew on 15 Aug 2008, 12:14 -
SriLankan Airlines Increases Flights to Thailand
SriLankan Airlines is bucking the trend and adding flights to its Bangkok-Colombo route. Citing steadily increasing passenger numbers year on year, the carrier is banking on the continued growth of regional travel.
While nearly every other airline in the region is cutting back its services due to high fuel costs and sluggish air traffic, SriLankan Airlines announced it will increase flights on its Bangkok-Colombo route from seven to 10 flights per week. This adds up to an additional 900 seats per week.
Amitabh Anthonypillai, SriLankan Airlines manager for Thailand, commented “'it's a totally out-of-the-box view if you look at it, but if you take the travel trends into Thailand and top it up with the Tourism Authority of Thailand's ongoing efforts in promoting the kingdom, you could see that it makes so much more sense [to increase flights].”
Passenger numbers have risen steadily each year since 2006 as Colombo has emerged as a popular hub for continuing travel to Europe and the Middle East. More than 50 per cent of the Bangkok-Colombo passengers continue on beyond Sri Lanka. From Colombo, the carrier operates around 100 weekly flights to India, the Middle East, London, Paris and Frankfurt.
Posted by: Andrew on 04 Aug 2008, 10:02 -
Bangkok Airways Decides to Cut Back International Flights
Despite having one of the strongest financial bases in the region, Bangkok Airways is feeling the pinch of higher fuel prices and a slump in regional air travel. To help the boutique carrier survive the current situation, it has suspended three of its international routes and reduced the number of flights to other destinations.
The three flights per week between Bangkok and Shenzhen (China) will be cut as of August 15, as will the four flights per week between Bangkok and Fukuoka (Japan) as of October 1. The carrier will also suspend its services between Siem Reap and Hong Kong in conjunction with its sister airline Siem Reap Airways International starting August 15.
Bangkok Airways is also reducing the frequency of flights on its Bangkok-Hiroshima (Japan) route from three per week to two beginning on October 1. These routes were chosen because they have proven unprofitable due to very low passenger volume.
The cut backs, however, have little impact on the overall operations of the airline. Bangkok Airways still services more than 100 flights per day with its fleet of 18 aircraft. Around 65 per cent of its flights are domestic and 35 per cent are international routes.
Posted by: Andrew on 28 Jul 2008, 09:48 -
Direct Flights from Japan to Phuket Resumed
Thai Airways resumed direct flights from Narita, Japan to the Thai resort island of Phuket after a 3-year hiatus. The once-popular route will fly two days a week with the hope that services can be expanded as demand warrants.
A group of 300 Japanese tourists arrived at Phuket International Airport from Narita aboard a Thai Airways Boeing 777. It was the first direct flight from Japan to Phuket since the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami put the brakes on tourism in the region. The year before the tsunami, around 206,000 Japanese visited Phuket. But 2007 saw only 115,000 Japanese tourists come to the island.
Tourism Authority of Thailand Southern Region 4 Office Director Suwalai Pinpradub and representatives from tourist businesses in Phuket greeted the arriving tourists with jasmine garlands. Pinpradub said that Japan is one of Phuket’s most important sources for tourists, and the newly reopened flights would give local business a much-needed boost during Phuket’s “green season”.
Thai Airways will begin by operating direct flights from Narita to Phuket on Thursdays and Sundays.
Posted by: Andrew on 24 Jul 2008, 09:23 -
Nok Air cancels Bangkok-Krabi route
Struggling Thai budget airline Nok Air has cancelled its daily Bangkok to Krabi flight along with services from Bangkok to Ubol Ratchathani and from Bangkok to Chiang Mai.
Travelers who already have flights booked on those routes with Nok Air need not fret, however, as Thai Airways International will be stepping in for Nok Air.
Additionally, passengers with seats already bought and paid for can contact Nok Air and opt for a refund.
The CEO of Nok Air, Patee Sarasin, said that the airline has also been forced to cut managerial salaries by up to 20 per cent to save the airline four million baht per month, ultimately in order to save the airline from going under.
Khun Patee also said that he is considering increasing fares by up to 240 baht per route.
Like so many other airlines around the world, Nok Air is struggling with the insatiable rise in fuel prices due to the high price of oil. With the subsequent rise in flight prices, less people are flying and the airline is losing millions of baht every month.
Despite reports by some media sources, Nok Air will not cease all operations, Khun Patee added.
Posted by: Andrew on 13 Jul 2008, 10:38 -
THAI resumes Tokyo-Phuket flights
Thai Airways International (THAI) has just announced that it will resume operating direct flights between Tokyo and Phuket.
Flights will resume with the Thai flag carrier from July 17, which was previously suspended in February 2005 due to the lack of passenger numbers visiting the ‘Pearl of the Andaman’ from Japan following the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami.
The flight will retain its same number, TG 671, and will operate directly from Tokyo to Phuket and then onto Bangkok twice per week.
Thai Airways International will operate the two flights on Thursdays and Saturdays, leaving Tokyo at 10:00 (Tokyo time) and arriving in Phuket at 15:25 (local time).
Flights will then depart Phuket at 16:30 and arrive in Bangkok at 17:55.
There will be two classes of service aboard the Boeing 777-200, with 279 seats in economy class and 30 seats in Royal Executive class.
Posted by: Andrew on 13 Jul 2008, 10:36 -
New package deals for Ko Samui
Sam2
Thailand’s tropical paradise island of Ko Samui is a popular tourist destination all year round for people from all over the world, and to make a trip to the island all the more alluring, Explore Holidays has come up with two holiday packages at two of Samui’s premier beachfront hotels targeted at travellers from Australia. The eight nights for the price of four packages are valid at the four star Bandara Resort and Spa and the Paradise Beach Resort.
The deals will include accommodation as well as return airfare with Singapore Airlines from Adelaide, and with Thai Airways from Sydney, Brisbane, Perth and Melbourne. Also included are included breakfasts at both of the hotels along with transportation from the airport to the hotel.
Prices for the Paradise Beach Resort start at AU$1215, and AU$1455 for the Bandara Resort and Spa. For departures from Perth and Brisbane, a night’s accommodation in Bangkok will be provided. For more information visit the Explore Holidays website at www.exploreholidays.com.au.
Posted by: DaveB on 24 Apr 2008, 19:43 -
Suvarnabhumi short on immigration staff
A shortage of immigration staff at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport was causing extremely long queues for foreign visitors admitted the commissioner of immigration.
The reason being, according to Immigration Bureau commander Pol Lt-Gen Chatchaval Suksomchit, is that the Immigration Bureau has limited staff numbers at Suvarnabhumi Airport’s many immigration counters.
The Immigration Bureau has received numerous complaints from irate passengers, both foreign and Thai, and as the Royal Thai Police control immigration and border posts, they are considering asking for more immigration staff from other agencies.
The extended queues have caused many passengers to miss flights when checking in less than one hour before their scheduled departure.
There isn't enough time to check-in and pass immigration within the hour and Pol Lt Gen Chatchaval said that 45 to 60 minutes should be set aside for immigration procedures alone.
Suvarnabhumi Airport is now Thailand’s main airport serving in excess of 100,000 international passengers per day - 45,000 arriving, 40,000 departing, and 15,000 in transit.
There are only 200 immigration officers on duty during each shift, with 124 counters for arriving passengers and 80 counters for departing passengers. The airport is short of about 400 immigration officers every day between the arrival and departure counters.
General Suksomchit suggested that passengers arrive at check-in at least two hours before their departure time.
More on Thailand Transportation
Posted by: Andrew on 25 Feb 2008, 09:35 -
Thai Airways Samui flights
Thai Airways International is to launch twice-daily flights between Bangkok and Koh Samui this week for the first time, the national carrier announced.
Thai are targeting European tourists making quick stopovers in Bangkok and the daily flights are to begin on Thursday February 14th.
Samui Airport is not big enough to handle jumbos so Thai Airways is to use Boeing 737-400s with a capacity of 149 passengers.
The airline expects over 70 per cent of its passengers on the new Bangkok-Samui route to be foreigners.
Thai Airways International Exectuive Vice President, Pandit Chanapai, said ‘We aim to make the route competitive by marketing it to tourists from major European cities currently served by Thai connecting through the new Suvarnabhumi Airport.’
Khun Pradit described the new route as a ‘breakthrough’ for Thai Airways as the holiday island has traditionally been served exclusively by private airline Bangkok Airways, the owner of the only airport on the island.
Bangkok Airways has had this honour for the past 20 years and it can only be a good thing that the national carrier gets in on the act.
Thai Airways must pay Bangkok Airways for the use of Samui Airport along with ground services.
More on Samui Travel
Posted by: Andrew on 12 Feb 2008, 09:09 -
Rain closes Jakarta airport
Sukarno Hatta Airport in Jakarta was closed on Friday by Indonesian authorities due to a heavy downpour which limited visibility.
The Jakarta based online news portal, Detik.com, reported that the limited visibility compromised safety.
Detik quoted an official at the Sukarno Hatta Airport named Luki as saying ‘We have delayed more than 120 flights coming in and out of the airport. If rain continues, there will be more flights delayed.’
Parts of Jakarta were inundated by filthy brown water which reached levels of nearly a metre, causing traffic in Jakarta to become seriously congested.
Indonesian President, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, was even forced to switch cars while traveling towards the state palace across the capital.
Indonesia has been hit by heavy rains since Thursday and they are expected to continue until well into Friday night, according to weather forecasters. China is also currently seeing excessive rain.
Those traveling between Thailand and Indonesia are advised to check ahead on the situation or choose another airport before booking tickets.
Getting to Thailand
Posted by: Andrew on 01 Feb 2008, 19:29 -
Aussie flight infiltrates Singapore
A private plane that entered Singapore air space causing panic on Tuesday evening was said to be an Australian-registered Cessna being piloted by its Australian owners.
The incident caused a 50-minute shutdown of Singapore's airspace, including Changi Airport, leaving 16 commercial flights circling the region, officials said Thursday.
The single-engine Cessna 208 Caravan float plane had originally taken off from Koh Samui Tuesday night and approached Singapore without a flight plan. Two Singapore Air Force F16 fighter jets were subsequently scrambled and intercepted the plane.
Singapore Air Force tracked the Cessna and the armed F16 fighters signaled to its pilots to land.
On landing at the central runway, two Australians - Mary Cummins and Rhys Thomas - were escorted away by police.
Mary Cummins had recently purchased the aircraft from an airline in Koh Samui for her tourist adventure flight company, which is co-owned by Rhys Thomas, a former Ansett pilot.
The Singapore Air Force has been on heightened alert for airborne terrorists since 9/11.
The shutdown of the airspace in Singapore affected 23 aircraft costing many thousands of dollars in fuel as well as delayed flights.
Police are investing the incident.
Getting to Samui
Posted by: Andrew on 24 Jan 2008, 10:50 -
Nok Air grounds Phuket-Hat Yai route
Nok Air has suspended its Phuket to Hat Yai service due to low passenger numbers and no increase in tourist traffic. This now means it is impossible to fly directly between the two major southern Thailand destinations.
The Executive Vice-President for Marketing at Nok Air, Sehapan Chumsai, has said there simply were not enough passengers to continue the service.
Nok Air launched the Phuket-Hat Yai service last June using Boeing 737-400 aircraft. It was then terminated on November 15 due to low passenger throughput and the clear indication that there was no profit to be made.
Nok Air resumed flights in December, however, in response to the high tourist season; although passenger numbers were still very low which has led to the cancellation.
Flights were generally only ever half full and were mostly made up of Thai nationals, even after the start of the high season.
In addition, although rival carrier One-Two-Go had a code-sharing agreement with Nok Air, they failed to book any passengers on any flight.
A smaller aircraft of about 70 seats for the Phuket-Hat Yai route could be the answer, although Nok Air has no plans to purchase any suitable aircraft just to service that route, Sehapan Chumsai said.
Phuket Air previously flew Phuket-Hat Yai with a 64-seat turboprop, while Thai Airways also used to fly direct with their standard 737s.
Getting to Phuket
Posted by: Andrew on 11 Jan 2008, 15:05 -
Protesting taxis jam Bangkok airport
Passengers arriving at Bangkok’s new Suvarnabhumi airport were greeted with an unwelcoming wait Tuesday as taxis refused to pick anyone up. Sudden changes to the parking and pickup permits prompted about 2,000 taxi drivers to stage a protest at the airport which was eventually dispersed at 3pm.
The protesting drivers gathered at the Public transport Centre after the Airports of Thailand (AOT) suddenly introduced a trial plan that cancelled their permits. They were expected to now park and wait at an off-site facility which is no longer provided free of charge. Getting to and from Bangkok airport
The taxi drivers became furious when the AOT management begun allowing unlicenced taxis in to alleviate the problem, which developed shortly after 8am. AOT has been paying an outsourced company 700,000 baht a month to manage the taxi queuing system, as well as paying 300,000 in upkeep of the parking facility.
At 3pm the standoff finally ended when representatives of AOT agreed that the plan would be suspended and to first consider proposals from the taxi drivers, whom the AOT wants to assume responsibility for managing the queuing system. It claimed to have already consulted a committee who apparently were representing the drivers.
AOT’s management of transportation at the airport has been previously criticised for its lack of transparency and fairness. Their own, grossly overpriced, limousine service is unfairly promoted in the arrivals area, where passengers are warned not take the metered taxis for their own safety, despite having been awarded permits to pick up from the airport. Numerous complaints continue to pour in about the aggressive AOT-approved touts who accost visitors in the arrivals hall offering the limo service. Only recently AOT reluctantly agreed to move the taxi pick up to the ground floor and move their limos to the basement.
Info on Bangkok airport
Posted by: Andrew on 26 Dec 2007, 21:12 -
Foreign flights could go back to Don Mueang
Airports of Thailand (AoT) announced recently that they would like to see the return of international flights to Bangkok’s old airport, Don Mueang.
Don Mueang was closed in 2006 when Bangkok opened its larger, more modern airport, Suvarnabhumi. Flights resumed at Don Mueang on a domestic level after the new airport began experiencing some problems in March 2007, and crowding at the airport is causing the AoT to call for a reopening of Don Mueang on an international scale.
Chirmsak Pinthong, a spokesperson from the AoT board and a former senator said that the AoT board approved plans to reopen Don Mueang for international traffic during a meeting held last Saturday. He added that airlines would be able to decided for themselves which airport to use.
The meeting also discussed expansion plans at Suvarnabhumi. The second phase of construction at the airport may be speeded up and the time line for the second phase of expansion at Phuket International Airport was also discussed. According to the AoT, both Phuket International and Suvarnabhumi suffer from congestion.
Transport Minister Theera Haocharoen is expected to discuss these issues at a weekly cabinet meeting with other government officials.
Posted by: Jen on 03 Dec 2007, 13:43 -
More seats on domestic flights for Thai holidays
Residents of Thailand are getting ready for the holidays but instead of celebrating Christmas, they will be getting of work and traveling for Constitution Day and New Year. In order to accommodate the anticipated demand in travel from December 8th to 10th and from December 26th to January 6th, 2007, Thai Airways International has made some changes to their flight schedule, particularly on routes to Chiang Mai and Phuket.
During the holiday period, Thai Airways will be adding an additional 35 flights to routes to Chiang Mai and Phuket, offering an extra 13,140 seats, an increase of 9.12 per cent in their usual operations.
Two more flights will be available from Bangkok to Chiang Mai for the Constitution Day holiday and two flights will be added on the route from Bangkok to Phuket over that period as well.
During the New Year period, Thai Airways will use larger aircrafts on three flights on the route from Bangkok to Chiang Mai as well as adding a total of ten new flights to the schedule. Between Bangkok and Phuket, one flight will use a larger aircraft than usual and 17 additional flights will be available to travelers in addition to the regularly scheduled services.
Posted by: Jen on 03 Dec 2007, 13:42 -
Cheap flights from Bangkok to Tokyo with United
There are only three days left to book a ticket from Bangkok to Tokyo with United Airlines on their special Tokyo promotion.
Until November 30th, the airline is offering a special fare of just 9,500 baht for a round trip ticket from Bangkok to Tokyo-Narita. The economy-class fare is applicable on travel dates until December 10th and travel with this promotion must be completed by December 16th.
Thailand’s General Manager for United, Eric Wilson, said: “This special fare allows Thailand residents to cost effectively visit Japan for Christmas and New Year shopping, visit family and friends and take in the winter sights in and around Tokyo.?
United offers daily flights between Thailand and Japan. Every morning at 06:40, a flight takes off from Suvarnabhumi Airport, arriving in Tokyo at 14:15. The return flight leaves Narita at 18:35, arriving in Bangkok at 23:45.
Once purchased, the ticket is non-refundable. The ticket price quoted does not include taxes and surcharges.
Posted by: Jen on 27 Nov 2007, 11:08 -
Thai Airways flight makes emergency landing
An aircraft flying with Thai Airways International was forced to make an emergency landing on Tuesday at Hat Yai Airport, near the Malaysian border, after the pilot discovered a malfunction with the cabin’s air-pressure system.
The Thai Airways flight TG 415 was flying to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi International Airport with 284 passengers on board when the pilot noticed the problem.
Just an hour after take-off, the pilot made the decision to land, for the well-being of the passengers. The safety and comfort of those on the plane was being compromised by the elevated air pressure in the plane’s cabin.
Suraphon Israngkula Na Ayudhya, a representative from the airline in chare of crisis management, said that the airline quickly dispatched another plane to enable the passengers to continue their journey.
Meanwhile, investigators are trying to determine the cause of the malfunction.
All passengers who were on board are safe.
Posted by: Jen on 07 Nov 2007, 10:22 -
SpiceJet Looking to fly to Bangkok
A domestic budget airline offering no-frills flights within India is awaiting government approval to launch international flights within Asia. If all goes according to plan, more discount flights could be available within the region, with SpiceJet considering Bangkok as one of the foremost destinations on its would-be international itinerary.
According to the airline’s vice president of marketing and planning, Kamal Hingorani, the airline is planning to expand its domestic offerings in the month of October. SpiceJet plans to offer new routes from Pune to Chennai and to Hyderbad and Ahmedabad.
But increasing the number and variety of domestic flights within India isn’t the only thing the low-cost airline has in mind for its future. Hingorani stated that SpiceJet has already identified destinations within West Asia and South East Asia where the airline would like to fly.
Pending government approval, the no-frills carrier would like to launch flights between India and Bangkok as well as flights to Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and possibly even Dubai.
SpiceJet is a relatively new airline started in May 2005 and based in New Delhi. The airline claims to “offer low ‘everyday spicy fares’ and great guest services to price conscious travelers?. The airline currently operates between 15 destinations in India including Delhi, Bangalore, and Goa.
Posted by: Jen on 25 Sep 2007, 18:08 -
Amazing low cost flights with Air Asia
Travelers planning to be in or around Bangkok in January 2008, will definitely want to check out budget airline Air Asia’s “Happy 2008? seat sale. Discount flights are available along all of the airline’s routes in South East Asia, with a number of destinations from Bangkok on sale for just eight baht each way (plus tax). International flights from Bangkok start at just 88 baht.
The sale is on for only five days, from September 11th until September 16th for travel from January 8th until January 30th 2008. All fares quoted here are for one way flights and do not include tax. These flights can not be refunded after the payment has been made and booking can only be done through the airline’s website.
From Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok, the following one way domestic flights are available for eight baht plus tax:
- Krabi
- Phuket
- Chiang Mai
- Chiang Rai
- Udon Thani
- Ubon Ratchathani
- Khon Kaen
- Surat Thani (Samui)
- Nakorn Si Thammarat
- Hat Yai
- Narathiwat
From Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok, the following one way international flights are available for 88 baht plus tax:
- Singapore
- Xiamen
- Shenzhen
- Macau (Guangzhou)
- Kuala Lumpur
- Penang
- Langkawi
- Hanoi
- Phnom Penh
- Yangon
Air Asia is a low-cost, no-frills carrier offering cheap flights to a number of destinations within Asia. The plans offer a single class of unassigned seating, however travelers can pay an additional fee for priority boarding.
Posted by: Jen on 12 Sep 2007, 08:43