Phuket welcomes new direct flight from Russia

[bradiston]

2 hours ago, hotchilli said:

I wonder if foreign powers will ask Thailand to impound any arriving aircraft that are on loan or leased to Russia that have not been paid for or returned since the outbreak of war.

Apparently Russia are using many aircraft for their own use now without repayments being made.

Maybe they're getting around it by buying some aircraft, at least.

 

https://money.usnews.com/investing/news/articles/2022-05-13/aeroflot-buys-eight-airbus-aircraft-from-foreign-leasing-firms

 

But there's $10 billion worth of planes seized by Russia. These arrivals should be seized!

[DezLez]

2 hours ago, Soupdragon said:

TAT's calculators are steam powered ????

I believe it is by their own hot air and that cracks the crystal balls!

[LivinginKata]

Lots of Russians here looking for long term rentals. Most younger guys with wife. All speak good english and work online. They not shy about telling me the reason they left mother land .....

[bradiston]

Seats available on all flights it seems on Aeroflot website, but Skyscanner reports no flights. 84,000 to 104,000 roubles one way on the early flight tomorrow. $1500 near enough, one way, for a 9 hour flight. Russian inflation raging? They have cheap gas too.

[ezzra]

I wonder if Russia would allow Thai flights and Thai tourists to come had the shoe was on the other foot where Thailand was attacking killing and  destroying a country who are friendly with Russia...

[bradiston]

1 minute ago, ezzra said:

I wonder if Russia would allow Thai flights and Thai tourists to come had the shoe was on the other foot where Thailand was attacking killing and  destroying a country who are friendly with Russia...

Like Myanmar you mean? Chai yo!

[Rimmer]

Off topic troll post and reply removed

[Operator2002]

10 hours ago, ChrisY1 said:

So I guess banks now give cash for Russians cards at ATMs?

Do Thai banks exchange Rubles?

You can buy USD (or other hard currency) from some banks in Russia (though the supply is scarce /limited).

You can issue UnionPay card in some Russian banks though you cannot be sure all these cards will work abroad of Russia. 

You can send money through some private services (for example VIPchanger) from some Russian banks' cards to a Thai bank account or bank card - but for a significant commission).

[herfiehandbag]

12 hours ago, bradiston said:

The original article says 449 passengers. Flight radar gives only 2 flights from Moscow to Phuket on 30th, both Aeroflot, both on Boeing 777-300er. Their max capacity is given as 386 but I suppose there are variations. Cram class I guess.

I thought that the sanctions on Russian aviation meant that their aircraft (Boeing or Airbus) were no longer certified for international flight. Furthermore the leased aircraft are liable to seizure if they land outside Russia.

 

Does that mean that Thailand's aviation authorities are quite happy to ignore the certification status (or lack of) of these aircraft?

[Operator2002]

14 hours ago, bradiston said:

Couldnt find any flights to Phuket on Nordwind's or IKAR/Pegas website. Precious few outside Russia. Some Stans, Iran or Cuba, that seems to be it. Maybe it was a charter.

 

https://airbook.nordwindairlines.ru/online/search#/search

it's Icarus charter airline according to the announcement at Pegast web-site:

 

[ThailandRyan]

47 minutes ago, Operator2002 said:

it's Icarus charter airline according to the announcement at Pegast web-site:

 

So no Tuesday or Friday flights and just 6 flights a week in total from All cities listed to Phuket.  So lets say 350 a flight, which is upping the figures from what flew in on the 30th, an so that's about 2100 folks a week, and 18,900 folks total for the rest of the year since there are only 9 weeks left.  If they all stay in Phuket Thailand for the foreseeable future and do not travel to Pattaya or BKK then Phuket will enjoy a nice bump up, especially in the Rawaii Area where many Russians own condos.  I wonder if they will be flying to BKK from Russia etc.... 

[bradiston]

50 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

So no Tuesday or Friday flights and just 6 flights a week in total from All cities listed to Phuket.  So lets say 350 a flight, which is upping the figures from what flew in on the 30th, an so that's about 2100 folks a week, and 18,900 folks total for the rest of the year since there are only 9 weeks left.  If they all stay in Phuket Thailand for the foreseeable future and do not travel to Pattaya or BKK then Phuket will enjoy a nice bump up, especially in the Rawaii Area where many Russians own condos.  I wonder if they will be flying to BKK from Russia etc.... 

2 Aeroflot flights a day from Moscow SVO to Phuket. From 60k to 231k roubles. If they fly multi class, the capacity will be lower. But 

"Please note that, for reasons beyond the control of Aeroflot PJSC, we no longer accept VISA, MASTERCARD or JCB cards issued by banks outside the Russian Federation."

 

About $1000, £880 one way, 9 hour flight.

 

[Onerak]

11 hours ago, bradiston said:

Any articles I see now about arrivals in Thailand I'm going to challenge.

Challenge because your voice is not heard anywhere on earth except among the members of this forum. Go for it. 

[Onerak]

2 hours ago, herfiehandbag said:

Furthermore the leased aircraft are liable to seizure if they land outside Russia.

Who is going to seize them? There are routine flights from Moscow to India, China, Turkey, Azerbaijan,  and a few other countries. 

[BigStar]

I'm seeing Russian hotties out on the beach and in beach restos in Pattaya again. Very, very nice. Spillover from Phuket?

[bradiston]

1 hour ago, Onerak said:

Challenge because your voice is not heard anywhere on earth except among the members of this forum. Go for it. 

Quite so ????

[Operator2002]

On 11/1/2022 at 4:26 PM, ThailandRyan said:

So no Tuesday or Friday flights and just 6 flights a week in total from All cities listed to Phuket.  So lets say 350 a flight, which is upping the figures from what flew in on the 30th, an so that's about 2100 folks a week, and 18,900 folks total for the rest of the year since there are only 9 weeks left.  If they all stay in Phuket Thailand for the foreseeable future and do not travel to Pattaya or BKK then Phuket will enjoy a nice bump up, especially in the Rawaii Area where many Russians own condos.  I wonder if they will be flying to BKK from Russia etc.... 

Besides these charter flights there are also regular flights by "Aeroflot": 2 daily flights from Moscow to Phuket & 1 daily flight from Moscow to Bangkok.

Problem is the prices for air tickets 2-3 times more expensive than in previous years.

Tour packages 3-4 times more expensive than in previous years - not so affordable for most people.

So the sales will not be huge as before when tens of charter flights operated every 1-3-7-10-14 days from many large Russian cities (up to 16) to Utapao, Suvarnabhumi, Phuket, Krabi - in addition to many regular flights. 

Another problem is security of flights by Russian airlines which was officially downgraded (for example, pilots will not be subject to medical examinations as often as before or the approved use of non-original spare parts etc etc)