Thai Airways to end its Samui flights this September

By The Thaiger

 

PHOTO: planespooters.net

 

Thai Airways pulling the plug on its Samui flights.

 

Thai Airways is scrapping its Bangkok-Samui flights from September this year. The airline’s been flying Bangkok to Samui, return, twice a day in a Boeing 737 carrying up to 149 passengers.

 

It negotiated a contract with Bangkok Airways to fly the two flights into Koh Samui, which built and manages the island’s airport since 2008.

 

Full story: https://thethaiger.com/lifestyle/travel/thai-airways-to-end-its-samui-flights-this-september

 

 

-- © Copyright The Thaiger 2018-06-02

It does not matter one iota. From the beginning, it was apparent that it was a ploy, that fulfilled a need for Bangkok Air to have some competition. It was all staged. They agreed to fly back and forth once a day, and always to charge even more, that the already stunningly high BA prices. The government has completely dropped the ball, when it comes to the handling of the BA Samui near monopoly. 

Yup - BKK to Samui 20 June on Bangkok Airways: 4,300B, Thai 4,600B

DMK to Surat 20 June on Thai Lion Air: 725B

 

Nice little duopoly while it lasted. Now Thai's out, the field's wide open for BA to jack up their prices again.

7 hours ago, PerkinsCuthbert said:

Nice little duopoly while it lasted. Now Thai's out, the field's wide open for BA to jack up their prices again.

Not really how it works - BA has dictated the price all the way. They own the airport, they set the price and they give out landing rights with the condition that their price can not be undercut. Given that BA has 15+ flights a day to BKK I don't think the 2 from Thai really made a difference. So nothing will change (which is a misery for people living here).

If you're an islander, you can always apply for Bangkok Airways Resident Card.

Flights to Phuket/Bangkok for 2000/2750 baht.

On 6/4/2018 at 11:39 PM, ethaniel said:

If you're an islander, you can always apply for Bangkok Airways Resident Card.

Flights to Phuket/Bangkok for 2000/2750 baht.

As a Samui resident I was charged 8,600THB for 2 Adults and an infant for a 1 way flight. It is still a rip off.

PHOTO: planespooters.net ??

So just fly to Surat... what's the problem?....

On 6/14/2018 at 7:34 AM, RickG16 said:

So just fly to Surat... what's the problem?....

Problem is it's a Long Swim IF Yer don't like boats !!

On 6/14/2018 at 7:34 AM, RickG16 said:

So just fly to Surat... what's the problem?....

no problem at all, if you don't mind the extra 4 or 5 hours journey time ? ?‍♂️ ? ? 

6 hours ago, sn1per said:

no problem at all, if you don't mind the extra 4 or 5 hours journey time ? ?‍♂️ ? ? 

You're joking right? It takes an hour to Don Sak and then 30-45 mins to Samui. 

5 hours ago, RickG16 said:

You're joking right? It takes an hour to Don Sak and then 30-45 mins to Samui. 

Seatran and raja ferries takes 1.5 hours. 

Bus from Suratthani airport takes 1.5 hours.

Then you have to wait wait for for the ferry for half an hour to one hour. 

Travelling to Chaweng or Lamai, one hour more. 

Done this multiple times per year. 

 

BTW you can not buy beer on the ferry anymore. ?

6 hours ago, PoorSucker said:

Seatran and raja ferries takes 1.5 hours. 

Bus from Suratthani airport takes 1.5 hours.

Then you have to wait wait for for the ferry for half an hour to one hour. 

Travelling to Chaweng or Lamai, one hour more. 

Done this multiple times per year. 

 

BTW you can not buy beer on the ferry anymore. ?

If speed is a priority then jump on Lomprayah obviously.... 30 -45 mins to Nathon. And won't need to worry about waiting an hour if you time your flight properly.

 

Obviously each to their own... I'm not a fan of hours on a bus / boat....but Surat Apt to Samui has never felt like a big journey to me, especially considering the price difference with flying direct.

 

EDIT: Having looked up where Ban Haad Ngam is, I can see why you prefer flying direct ? 

On 6/27/2018 at 9:22 PM, RickG16 said:

You're joking right? It takes an hour to Don Sak and then 30-45 mins to Samui. 

deleted post see #12

21 hours ago, sn1per said:

deleted post see #12

See #13

On 7/1/2018 at 8:06 AM, RickG16 said:

See #13

 

On 7/1/2018 at 8:06 AM, RickG16 said:

See #13

ok 2- 1/2 hours with lomprayer from Nathon, but from Bophut, Chaweng, Bangrak there is 1/2 hour travel/bording time to get to the ferry,  (if you want them to pick you up... the wait/travel time is gonna increase because they pick up at various places on the way)  then check in at Surat is one hour. so from this side of the island, it still works out to about 4 hours

Those living on Samui really need to hope and press for the building of a new airport.  Until then they should boycott the current Samui airport or nothing will change.

On 6/2/2018 at 9:22 PM, PerkinsCuthbert said:

Yup - BKK to Samui 20 June on Bangkok Airways: 4,300B, Thai 4,600B

DMK to Surat 20 June on Thai Lion Air: 725B

 

Nice little duopoly while it lasted. Now Thai's out, the field's wide open for BA to jack up their prices again.

I get your meaning, but not really comparable. Entirely different products for route/service. The reality is PG does have a monopoly on the route, and charges accordingly.