Bangkok Airways Augments Indochina Network/Bolsters Fleet Strength
In a bid to strengthen its ’boutique’ network in Asia, Bangkok Airways will launch a new air link from Chiang Mai to Siem Reap from October 29, with the move eliminates transiting through Bangkok.
The flight will operate on Thursday and Saturdays using a 70 seat ATR72. The service is one way only as it links with the Siem Reap/Bangkok jet service.
Vientiane, another popular destination in Indochina, is also being linked with Bangkok and non stop services are also expected to begin with the winter schedule in October.
The two new services further linking Thailand with Indochina follow the start of twice weekly ATR72 services between Bangkok and Pakse and Pakse and Siem Reap earlier this year. (Pakse is the gateway to southern Laos and the World Heritage listed Wat Phou, an Angkor-era temple.)
Bangkok Airways also launched thrice weekly Boeing 717 services between Bangkok and Ho Chi Minh City earlier in 2007.
[Pictured: Distinctive holiday motifs adorn all Bangkok Airways aircraft including its new Airbus 319.]
Outside the region, Bangkok Airways also introduced Boutique Premier Service (BPS) on its twice weekly Airbus 320 Bangkok/Maldives flights earlier this year.
BSP was designed to provide a business class ambience onboard the all-economy configured aircraft. Exclusively curtained from other economy class seats, BSP passengers enjoy more space, a wider choice of meals and drinks, access to the airline’s Boutique Lounge and 30 kg luggage allowance.
On the domestic front Bangkok Airways begins new non stop return flights from Bangkok to Krabi and Krabi to Samui on October 29.
As from August 31 passengers flying into Samui have landed at a new airport. The $18.5 million facility has four domestic terminals and two international terminals. The new airport can now process 16,000 passengers a day.
[Pictured: The new $18.5 million terminal at Samui Airport is four times larger than the old facility.]
The terminal development incorporates a shopping precinct. A 60 room hotel adjoining the terminal is scheduled to open in early 2008.
Arrivals at the new airport are expected to further increase with Bangkok Airways set to expand regional connections into Samui.
In other developments Bangkok Airways has received “the merit of excellence” for the Best Regional Airline for Asia and the Best Regional Airlines for SE Asia in the 2007 Skytrax poll.
This is the fourth consecutive year that the boutique carrier has received distinctions “for the highest standards of airline customer service quality”.
Exclusive Report by Thomas E. King, TravelMole’s Travel and Lifestyle Editor
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