Thai Airways eyes 300,000 Russian passengers per year in 3 years

BANGKOK: -- Thai Airways International has set a target of carrying 300,000 Russian travelers per year within three years time, following the inauguration of its direct Bangkok-Moscow flight next month.

Currently, some 110,000 Russian holiday, business and official travelers come to Thailand via the Thai national flag carrier per year, and this figure is expected to triple over the next three years, said a top THAI executive in charge of marketing.

Pridi Boonsue said that Thai Airways will start flying to Moscow direct from Bangkok three times a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays starting Nov 1.

With high reservation rates, Mr Pridi said THAI is looking at a 75 per cent passenger load per flight. A number of passengers from Russia also transit in Thailand for onwards destinations such as Bali.

Mr. Pridi said the frequency of the Bangkok-Moscow flight will be increased to five times a week in winter and down to three a week in summer. THAI will work with the Tourism Authority of Thailand to boost the number of tourist arrivals from Russia to Thailand.

Meanwhile, the Bangkok-New York direct flight is operating at a loss due to expensive jet fuel price despite the average 80 per cent passenger load per flight, said Mr. Pridi.

--TNA 2005-10-24

Blimey, this will make the place a little dodgy IMHO, russkies drinking their jet fuel vodka.... Expect some film like action when they start bringing in 300,000 a year in.

And theres only one Russian Restaurant in Pattaya too!

Blimey, this will make the place a little dodgy IMHO, russkies drinking their jet fuel vodka.... Expect some film like action when they start bringing in 300,000 a year in.

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Hopefully its not the usual suspects - that Thailand has been a custom to!!!

With regularly scheduled flights I assume we will see more lasses from the newly independent Republics selling their wares in the lower Suk district. It will be interesting to see if the Ruskie mafia and the Thai police can work out a a business arrangement.

>>>see more lasses from the newly independent Republics selling their wares in the lower Suk district.

How much they charge ST? same or more TG?'

thx

nam

Anyone knows that the average Russian still can´t afford a holiday abroad.So there´s only the upper-class left and it´s still dodgy where their money is coming from.

Could be quite a show when the Russian mafia meets the Thai mafia. Could be the start of an all new hub.