|
|
thailand : Airline Business Booms in Southern Thailand |
 Airline Business Booms in Southern ThailandRecent announcements by a number of airlines indicate that cities in South Thailand are set to see a strong return of international flights in the last quarter of 2009.
As of 25 October, 2009, Tiger Airways began flying from Singapore to Krabi four flights a week. Since 3 November, 2009, the airline has launched three weekly flights on the Singapore - Hat Yai - Singapore route.
On 1 May, 2009, Firefly, the low cost subsidiary of Malaysia Airlines, launched its inaugural flight from Subang airport, Kuala Lumpur to Phuket. It also plans to start flights from Kuala Lumpur to Krabi and Hat Yai when traffic demand and other conditions permitting.
As of 26 October, 2009, Happy Air, a new regional Thai carrier based in Phuket, began flying from Phuket to Hat Yai, one flight a week. On 1 November, 2009, it started daily flights on the Hat Yai-Langkawi and Phuket-Langkawi sectors.
The renewed interest by the airlines is welcome news for southern Thailand which has been affected by the decline in regional travel as a result of the financial crisis and the fears over the H1N1 swine flu.
According to the Airports of Thailand, during January – September 2009, the number of aircraft movements at Hat Yai International Airport totaled 7,292 and passenger movements totaled 1,010,531, while at Phuket International Airport, the number of aircraft movements totaled 27,034 and passenger movements totaled 4,092,866.
At Krabi International Airport, the number of aircraft movements there during January – July 2009 totaled 2,723 and passenger movements totaled 387,623.
The Office of Tourism Development, Ministry of Tourism and Sports, reports the number of visitor arrivals to Krabi and Phuket during January - March 2009 totaled 523,467 and 984,496, respectively. They generated 3,730 million baht and 21,998 million baht in tourism revenue, respectively.
|
|
| |
