AIR ASIA

Air Asia's Chiang Mai-Ubon Ratchathani

The Nation

Budget airline Thai AirAsia yesterday inaugurated its Chiang Mai-Ubon Ratchathani flights linking the North and Northeast.

"Chiang Mai is a tourism destination that has uniqueness. The airline expects to push it to become an aviation hub of the region to link with other new flights," chief executive officer Tassapol Bijleveld said yesterday.

This new route will help boost travel by both local and foreign tourists, as the two cities are the hubs of their regions, he said.

The airline will use Chiang Mai to extend its routes to other cities inside the country, such as Phuket and Hat Yai, as well as outside the country, Tassapol said. This will take its load factor up from 80 per cent to 85 per cent.

The Chiang Mai-Ubon Ratchathani flights are expected to be 85-90 per cent full.

The airline will promote the Royal Flora Ratchaphruek fair, which will be held by the end of this year, as a magnet to lure travellers from the Northeast region and Laos to fly with AirAsia. The Chiang Mai-Ubon Ratchathani route is served by three turnaround flights a week, on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.

If demand rises, the frequency will be increased to seven days a week.

International destinations in the region will likely start with Hong Kong next year.

"Domestic passengers have increased while international passengers have decreased, so the airline's passenger traffic is slightly affected by the flooding," Tassapol said.

-- The Nation 2011-11-17

seems to have mixed up dates-I left CNX by AAs wed 16/11 toward HdYai-and that was the same plane coming in from Ubol @10.10-no special signs, no music, no fanfare so tipical for 1st flights. To my amazement that flight to HdYai was also near full-Thailands longest domestic flight.

And I feel nothing and now have no money go out to travel Wait to have the money in it