Is Thai Airways the only airline which flies between Bangkok and Khon Kaen? I've done a search and can't find anybody else.

Does any other carrier have plans to fly that domestic route?

I remember flying Air Asia regularly - then all of a sudden they dropped the route. Their planes were always at least 75% full. Did they give any reason to stop flying BKK-KKC?

Now that Thai Airways has the monopoly (so it seems) they charge the earth, give very average service and their on-time departures seem to be a thing of the past.

Peter

Is Thai Airways the only airline which flies between Bangkok and Khon Kaen?

NO, I flew there last nov and noted there is also 1 flite on 1-2-GO, late afternoon.

BUSES run every 30 mins, took me exact 6 hrs into Mochit (coming back later0 and was with wide 3 abreast seat and good foodservice.

AirAsia: most likely you flew on busy days and there were many non-busy days when they could not fill planes with enough higher fares to pay for cost. At least thats what my logic reasoning and some exp. with Ryans' and the like in Europe says. Even 99% full but with only 99 bt afres no profit can be made.

Currently only TG serve BKK-KKC with three daily flights, two of which are with A300-600's and one with the smaller 737-400.

Is Thai Airways the only airline which flies between Bangkok and Khon Kaen?

NO, I flew there last nov and noted there is also 1 flite on 1-2-GO, late afternoon.

BUSES run every 30 mins, took me exact 6 hrs into Mochit (coming back later0 and was with wide 3 abreast seat and good foodservice.

AirAsia: most likely you flew on busy days and there were many non-busy days when they could not fill planes with enough higher fares to pay for cost. At least thats what my logic reasoning and some exp. with Ryans' and the like in Europe says. Even 99% full but with only 99 bt afres no profit can be made.

1-2-GO did announce a Khon Khaen flight mid-last year but quickly dropped it - not sure why the route is so unprofitable... but hopefully, in the future, more local airlines will pick up the destination once again if TAT chooses to promote the region to international tourists.

Another option would be BKK to Udon Tani, Nok Air 3 flights a day or Air Asia.

Then get the bus to Khon Kaen, not too far about 1 1/2 - 2 hours.

Thanks for the suggestion, Lite Beer. My other half's village is about half way between Khon Kaen and Udon Thani, so it is an option. The only problem is transport between KKC airport or Adon Thani airport and the village.

I have friends who live in Khon Kaen who are happy to drive me to the village. I have thought about hiring a car and driving from Bangkok.

Any recommendations?

Peter

Thanks for the suggestion, Lite Beer. My other half's village is about half way between Khon Kaen and Udon Thani, so it is an option. The only problem is transport between KKC airport or Adon Thani airport and the village.

I have friends who live in Khon Kaen who are happy to drive me to the village. I have thought about hiring a car and driving from Bangkok.

Any recommendations?

Peter

It looks like TG will relocate at least some of the more local domestic routes to Don Muang airport.

If this is the case I suppose they will keep Phuket, Chiang Mai, etc in the new airport but the others will go to Don Muang.

It will make more sense to rent a car from Bangkok if your trip is not too long.

I got a quote for 7 days from Avis for just under 10.000 baht. if you rent for more than 7 days you can drop the car at any of their station in Thailand wihtout surcharge.

if you only want to drive from the airport to KhonKaen and leave the car there it should cost 1 day's rental + drop off charges around 3,000 or 4,000 baht + gas + transport from their station to your place (I did it with Budget and had them pick-up the car from the outskirts of town 25km away and they charged only 200 baht to come and pick the car up)

It will surely save you time and hassle

The bus from Morchit would be the cheapest of course if time was not important