Phuket airport bus services pared back, full service to resume in August

[webfact]

Phuket airport bus services pared back, full service to resume in August
Phuket Gazette


The airport authorities have been asked to install lights and signs so tourists can find the bus stop at the airport. Photo: Chutharat Plerin

PHUKET: -- The operator of the recently launched Airport Express bus has suspended some services, but expects to return to the full schedule next month.

The Airport Express bus, operating a “hop on, hop off” service between Phuket International Airport and Patong, launched last Friday to little fanfare (story here).

Since then, the dwindling volume of passengers has forced the operator to suspend the early morning run from Patong and the two night services from the airport.

“The bus stop was simply too dark in the evening. There was no light there,” Prakob Panyawai, the owner of the bus company, told the Phuket Gazette.

“Also, there were no signs pointing to the bus stop, which meant tourists did not know where the bus stop was located,” he added.

The airport authority has been notified of the problems and requested to install appropriate lights and signs, Mr Prakob said.

“We expect everything to be finalized by the end of August, and at that time we will reinstate the original evening schedule,” he explained.

The first run from Patong, departing at 8am, was also cancelled because there were no customers at that time.

“We will start to pick up passengers in Patong at 10am instead,” Mr Prakob said.

“We strongly believe we don’t have many passengers at present because it is the [tourism] low season, but we have high hopes and expectations for the high season,” he said.

“We are working hard to promote the service via radio, newspapers, department-store publicity and the internet,” Mr Prakob said.

For more details of the new bus service, including times and fares, visit PhuketAirportBusExpress.com.

Source: http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket_news/2013/Phuket-airport-bus-services-pared-back-full-service-to-resume-in-August-21776.html


-- Phuket Gazette 2013-07-27

[eezergood]

Great saving measures guys, but AUgust is here in 5 days!

[andreandre]

Great saving measures guys, but AUgust is here in 5 days!

Just delaying the inevitable..if you read the other sites report its a lot more than just a lack of signs and lights at the airport..it appears to me that the operator just hasn't go a clue, let alone a viable business plan.

He's blaming all and sundry for his own failings.

I think he really thought he could just buy a small fleet of buses, set up a basic timetable and immediately..''presto'' have an overnight success....he has failed to do his homework big time and now its crunch time.already.

[laurentbkk]

Just wonder if I should laugh at that story ..... isnt it the basic to do some market research or even check what do the other airport bus link ..... 1 step[ ahead ...2 steps forward

[yimlitnoy]

Evening services posponed until end of August... How long it takes them to install some spot lights?

[TackyToo]

Maybe the guy should consider to ask the Russian tour-operators for some basic business training???

[JulesMad]

"..... end of August......." What year!?!?

[jpeg]

Evening services posponed until end of August... How long it takes them to install some spot lights?

Or have someone hold a torch

[belg]

ahhhhhhhh

thai intelligence....

[chub]

The article on taxis in the current issue of the Gazette identifies the Managing Director of the Phuket Airport Limousine and Business Cooperative, one of the two big taxi and minibus concessionaires at the airport, as Khun Prakob Panyawai. The same gentleman is identified as the 'owner' of the Airport Express Bus Co.

Does anyone think that Khun Prakob's larger interest might be best served by giving the impression of 'having a go' at running a low-fare airport bus, then lamenting the lack of demand to justify quietly withdrawing it, hopefully killing all future public bus initiatives. The Kata Karon tuk-tuk 'association' would also be well served by such a strategy.

[andreandre]

The article on taxis in the current issue of the Gazette identifies the Managing Director of the Phuket Airport Limousine and Business Cooperative, one of the two big taxi and minibus concessionaires at the airport, as Khun Prakob Panyawai. The same gentleman is identified as the 'owner' of the Airport Express Bus Co.

Does anyone think that Khun Prakob's larger interest might be best served by giving the impression of 'having a go' at running a low-fare airport bus, then lamenting the lack of demand to justify quietly withdrawing it, hopefully killing all future public bus initiatives. The Kata Karon tuk-tuk 'association' would also be well served by such a strategy.

Interesting and ties in with this article from March;PG

Phuket Transport chief Teerayut asked the Gazette not to reveal the bus operator’s identity.

Although the contract to run the bus service is a government concession – meaning that all information relating to the terms of service and the company that will provide the service must be publicly available – Mr Teerayut asked the Gazette not to name the man behind the new service until it is launched.

He declined to give a formal reason why he requested the information be withheld.

Regardless, the new bus service operator himself agreed to reveal that he has been running taxis at Phuket Airport for years, and that his taxi associates at the airport had no problem with him launching the new service.

“My fellow taxi drivers understand the bus service is needed and are happy to see Phuket progress,” he said.

If correct as it appears sure could show this whole debacle in a different light...