Thai AirAsia to fly to Macau from Chiang Mai

BAMRUNG AMNATCHAROENRIT

THE NATION

Chiang Mai

CHIANG MAI: -- Low-cost airline Thai AirAsia has launched a new route from Chiang Mai to Macau as part of its plan to strengthen the northern city as a provincial flight base.

Chiang Mai is considered a tourism destination with its offerings of rich culture, food, art and natural attractions. Thai AirAsia started promoting the city as a flight hub last year. At present from Chiang Mai, the airline offers eight daily flights to Bangkok, two to Phuket, one to Hat Yai, three weekly flights to Ubon Ratchathani, and has now added one daily flight to Macau.

In the future, one Chiang Mai-Phuket flight and one Chiang Mai-Ubon Ratchathani flight may be added. However, Phuket International Airport currently faces over-capacity.

The firm stopped its Chiang Mai-Singapore flight because of low earnings, despite a 70-per-cent load factor. The reason is that Singapore is a small market with a 5-million population.

Tassapon Bijleveld, the company's chief executive officer, said AirAsia's Chiang Mai hub had grown steadily with the support of passengers. The airline, ranked as the world's best low-cost airline by Skytrax from 2009 to 2011, plans to expand its destination network to other cities, especially in southern China, including Guangzhou.

China is one of AirAsia's major markets. Besides the big population, the people have more purchasing power and have begun travelling outside the country, thanks to the ongoing economic boom.

Dr Zhu Weimin, China's consul-general to Chiang Mai, said that last year 1.5 million Chinese came to Thailand and this year the number is expected to grow to 2 million. Of the total, only 2-3 per cent travelled to Chiang Mai.

Zhu said Chiang Mai had been one of the top destinations among Chinese.

However, the traffic is still low because of the lack of direct flights. AirAsia's new direct Chiang Mai-Macau service will help boost its traffic flow.

-- The Nation 2012-03-24

Booked 2 days ago!

AFAIK, Thai Air Asia is owned by Thaksin and/or his family. I personally would avoid flying them, as that would be putting money into their pockets. Other airlines fly to similar destinations and can offer similar rates, but in any case, I'd rather pay 1-2,000 baht more knowing it's not going into Thaksin's pocket.