Good News for Phuket
Thai Airways International will resume its Phuket-Hong Kong service later this month according to the Bangkok Post on October 16 2009. “Industry observers say the move is to combat the budget carrier Thai AirAsia’s impending launch of flights on the high-potential route.”
The flag carrier on Oct 25 will restart the non-stop flights, which were suspended soon after People’s Alliance for Democracy protesters blockaded Bangkok’s two airports late last year.Thai AirAsia plans to start daily flights on the route from Nov 15 as part of its strategy to turn Phuket into its second hub. The low-cost carrier plans to operate a series of new non-stop international services from the resort island.
Pruet Boobphakam, executive vice-president for commercial sales at THAI, told the Bangkok Post the two airlines will be competing in different market segments: budget-conscious travellers and those requiring full services.”Our re-launch is largely in response to market demand,” he said, though he acknowledged that there would be some price competition between the two carriers as passengers will have a greater choice.
THAI will offer three flights a week on the Phuket-Hong Kong route: Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.
This is good news for the Phuket hotel market and by extension the Phuket villa and condominium market because the easier it is to get to Phuket the more attractive the resort becomes as a choice for a second home.
