THAI could begin Bkk-Samui flights by April

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TRAVEL / BANGKOK AIRWAYS NEGOTIATIONS

THAI could begin Bkk-Samui flights by April
Thursday January 10, 2008
AMORNRAT MAHITTHIROOK


Thai Airways International (THAI) hopes to start Bangkok-Samui flights in April, but only if it can reach an agreement on landing times and fees with the airport's owner, Bangkok Airways.

THAI president Apinan Sumanaseni said the national carrier wants to ferry tourists arriving from Europe straight to Koh Samui. Many of the European flights arrive in Bangkok between 5am and 6am, so Thai Airways would schedule its flights out of Bangkok for Samui for between 7am and 8am, he said.

''But without a proper flight window we might have to abort plans to fly to Koh Samui,'' he said. ''We will not operate flights when there are no passengers.''

Bangkok Airways has a monopoly on flight services to the resort island as it built and operates the only airport there. The monopoly has lead to public complaints about expensive fares and too few flights.

Mr Apinan said THAI will also have to discuss landing fees at Samui airport. The landing fee charged by Bangkok Airways was expensive, he said.

However, if a timetable and fees could be negotiated then THAI would immediately launch a Bangkok-Samui service using Boeing 737-400s, he said.

Civil Aviation Department director-general Chaisak Angsuwan said he backed the new service because it would save the cost of building a new airport on the island. He expected an agreement to be reached and THAI to start its Bangkok-Samui service in April.

However, the ongoing study into a second airport for Koh Samui would continue, he said. If Thai Airways begins the new service the number of air passengers to Koh Samui could be expected to rise from 650,000 to one million annually, according to the Transport Ministry.

bangkokpost.com


there's been numerous attempts to break the monopoly , betting this one adds to the list .

More's the shame cause currently Samui has seen it's heyday .

.

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Thai are not noted for cheap fares so in the true tradition of backwards logic, this would probably lead to price increases.

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THAI to open Koh Samui service
Published on January 18, 2008


Thai Airways International (THAI) will operate 28 flights a week between Bangkok and Koh Samui from February 15, while Thai AirAsia is also negotiating to fly the route.

Civil Aviation Department director-general Chaisak Angkasuwan confirmed the starting date of the THAI flights.

THAI will offer two daily flights from Bangkok at 7.45am and 4pm, with return flights from Koh Samui at 9.40am and 5.50pm. The flights were originally expected to start in April.

The decision was made on Tuesday after a meeting between THAI and Bangkok Airways executives. Bangkok Airways owns Koh Samui Airport.

The two airlines are negotiating the fare, which will include the landing fee, ground handling charges and other costs.

Bangkok Airways has until now maintained a monopoly on this route. However, the airline has come under pressure by official bodies and other airlines to open its airport to other carriers. The Transport Ministry had considered building a second airport on the island to open the route to competition.

Koh Samui residents have for years urged Bangkok Airways to offer lower fares.

AirAsia Group CEO Tony Fernandes is in Bangkok this week to discuss the possibility of subsidiary Thai Airasia also flying to Koh Samui. Earlier this week, he said he was keen to operate the route.

Local airlines besides Bangkok Airways, including THAI, Thai AirAsia and One-Two-Go, now fly to Surat Thani town, the nearest stop to Koh Samui. From there, passengers must transfer to ferries to get to the island.

Suchat Sritama
nationmultimedia.com