The inaugural Bangkok to Samui flight lifts off on 15th February 2008 with a host of VIPs on hand to celebrate this auspicious occasion.
Traditionally served only by Bangkok Airways, Thailand's largest privately owned carrier, the airport on the holiday island of Samui is now welcoming twice daily flights on THAI direct from Suvarnabhumi International Airport Bangkok.
From 15 February 2008 onwards, THAI will offer two daily round trip flights, morning and evening, on a 149-seater B734 aircraft offering Economy and Royal Silk Class with convenient connections to Suvarnabhumi international arrivals and departures.
The Samui Airport enjoyed a 500-million Baht facelift in 2007 with the passenger terminal undergoing an extension to increase its capacity more than fourfold to handle up to 16,000 passengers a day, designed to cope with surging foreign tourist traffic to the island over the next 10 years. According to the Department of Civil Aviation, 1.18 million tourists passed through the airport in 2006.
Samui is a tropical island haven situated in the Gulf of Thailand offering miles of glittering white beaches and turquoise waters where visitors can enjoy the Ang Thong National Marine Park littered with islands, caves, hidden lagoons and towering cliffs as well as elephant trekking through the jungles, monkeys picking coconuts and cascading waterfalls.
Mr. Pandit Chanapai, THAI's Executive Vice President, Commercial Department, said the new route supports the Thai government's policy to promote inbound and domestic tourism, particularly to the southern and outer island resorts. THAI expects up to 70% of passengers on its flights into Samui to be from overseas.
"This is a breakthrough for THAI. Samui is a premier destination. We aim to make the route very competitive by marketing it to tourists from cities currently served by THAI connecting through Suvarnabhumi Airport. In addition, THAI's policy is to expand its network and connections in order to provide seamless travel and convenience for its passengers,"
Mr Chanapai said.
Special Royal Orchid Holidays packages will be offered to travellers. These include selection of twenty hotels in Samui and two hotels in Pha Ngan plus 11 optional tours to the popular Ang Thong Marine National Park and Koh Tao.
The other southern destinations serviced by THAI are Hat Yai, Phuket, Surat Thani and Krabi. The Samui route brings to 12 the number of THAI domestic routes.
From Dubai, Royal Orchid Holidays offers inclusive packages to the island of Samui on THAI, starting from AED 2650 per person including return Economy Class tickets, two nights hotel accommodation on twin sharing basis with daily breakfast, return airport transfers and one city tour.
The THAI Dubai-Bangkok route is currently served by the Airbus 330-300 aircraft, with eleven flights weekly. THAI carried roughly 24,000 passengers from the Middle East to Bangkok during the first quarter 2007, an increase of almost 22% over the same period in 2006 bringing the airline's market share on the route to 53%.
For further information on destinations served by THAI and Royal Orchid Holiday packages please contact your favourite travel agent or Thai Airways International Dubai on +971 4 268 1701 / email: package@thaiairways.ae
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About THAI from Dubai
The Dubai-Bangkok route is currently served by the Airbus 330-300 aircraft with 42 Royal Silk Business Class and 263 Royal Economy Class seats. THAI operates 11 flights each week from Dubai to Bangkok, with onward connections to domestic and international flights from its home base in Bangkok, Suvarnabhumi International Airport.
About Thai Airways International
THAI currently serves 74 destinations in 36 countries across four continents. This total includes 12 of the most important cities of Europe; 39 destinations throughout Asia; three in the Middle East (Dubai, Kuwait and Muscat); five in Australia/New Zealand and the two leading East and West Coast US gateways, New York and Los Angeles. THAI also serves 11 domestic cities, towns and resorts throughout Thailand. This vast network provides unrivalled coverage of the major business centres and tourist destinations spanning the globe.
For media information:
Caroline Tapken
Shrimp Asia
Dubai Media City
Tel: 971 50 349 5113
Email: caroline@shrimp-asia.com
© Press Release 2008
