Phuket: THAI to axe Phuket to Seoul route

[webfact]

Phuket: THAI to axe Phuket to Seoul route

PHUKET: -- Thai Airways International Plc (THAI) will axe three international routes in March, including Phuket to Seoul, to help the national carrier stem losses.

The flights from Phuket to Seoul will be suspended from March 29, as will the Bangkok to Madrid and Moscow routes THAI president Charamporn Jotikasthira said yesterday.

Flights from Bangkok to Johannesburg have been suspended since Jan 15.

Three to four more flights will be added to the airline's profitable routes, including those to China and Japan, because the number of tourists is growing, Mr Charamporn said.

The decision to suspend Bangkok-Moscow flights was helped by the fact that most passengers on this route use charter flights, he said. THAI will not change its strategy to compete with charter flights, he said.

Flights from Bangkok to Los Angeles may also be suspended. A decision will be made in the second quarter of this year, Mr Charamporn said.

Suspending routes is part of the carrier's rehabilitation plan approved by the State Enterprise Policy Committee, known as the "Super Board", on Monday (January 26).

The plan involves five measures: reducing and, where necessary, suspending unprofitable flight routes, adjusting marketing strategies, selling assets and unused aircraft, restructuring manpower and improving non-core businesses. Ticketing sales will be tweaked to reach out to customers more effectively, Mr Charamporn said.

Source: Bangkok Post

Source: http://www.thephuketnews.com/thai-to-axe-phuket-to-seoul-route-50800.php


-- Phuket News 2015-01-30

[steelepulse]

Never even knew they flew this route. Whenever I do a price check, they're not even listed in the top 80% of fares from lowest to highest. The Korean carriers do it better and cheaper.

[Suffinator]

Another clear indication that even the Koreans are sick of Phuket. The only thing left is the Russians and Chinese. Russians are depleting due to the collapse of the Ruble and I wonder how many more deaths of Chinese citizens it will take before they decide not to come to Phuket.

There's a clear message here for Phuket and Thailand as a whole but as usual the Thai gov will ignore it and insist the people are happy and that Thailand remains the #1 nation on the earth.

[NamKangMan]

"The decision to suspend Bangkok-Moscow flights was helped by the fact that most passengers on this route use charter flights, he said." - further evidence of the "zero baht tourist."

Thailand doesn't even sell the Russians an air ticket to get here.

[Bogan Koori]

Another clear indication that even the Koreans are sick of Phuket. The only thing left is the Russians and Chinese. Russians are depleting due to the collapse of the Ruble and I wonder how many more deaths of Chinese citizens it will take before they decide not to come to Phuket.

There's a clear message here for Phuket and Thailand as a whole but as usual the Thai gov will ignore it and insist the people are happy and that Thailand remains the #1 nation on the earth.

China has over a billion people. They would have over 100 million middle class there. My money would be on targeting these tourists for Phuket. The zero baht tourists that you see now are the equivalent of the Aussie bogans you saw in the 90s in Phuket. Wait till these middle class Chinese start investing heavily in Thailand and Phuket

[NamKangMan]

Another clear indication that even the Koreans are sick of Phuket. The only thing left is the Russians and Chinese. Russians are depleting due to the collapse of the Ruble and I wonder how many more deaths of Chinese citizens it will take before they decide not to come to Phuket.

There's a clear message here for Phuket and Thailand as a whole but as usual the Thai gov will ignore it and insist the people are happy and that Thailand remains the #1 nation on the earth.

China has over a billion people. They would have over 100 million middle class there. My money would be on targeting these tourists for Phuket. The zero baht tourists that you see now are the equivalent of the Aussie bogans you saw in the 90s in Phuket. Wait till these middle class Chinese start investing heavily in Thailand and Phuket

I can see it now. Chinese bar, cafe, restaurant and guest house owners - all paying key money, and ridiculous monthly rents. It's not going to happen.

Phuket's days of "selling the dream" are over.

Edited January 30, 2015 by NamKangMan

[JetsetBkk]

Let's hope that includes the Seoul to Phuket route, too.

[Bogan Koori]

Another clear indication that even the Koreans are sick of Phuket. The only thing left is the Russians and Chinese. Russians are depleting due to the collapse of the Ruble and I wonder how many more deaths of Chinese citizens it will take before they decide not to come to Phuket.

There's a clear message here for Phuket and Thailand as a whole but as usual the Thai gov will ignore it and insist the people are happy and that Thailand remains the #1 nation on the earth.

China has over a billion people. They would have over 100 million middle class there. My money would be on targeting these tourists for Phuket. The zero baht tourists that you see now are the equivalent of the Aussie bogans you saw in the 90s in Phuket. Wait till these middle class Chinese start investing heavily in Thailand and Phuket

I can see it now. Chinese bar, cafe, restaurant and guest house owners - all paying key money, and ridiculous monthly rents. It's not going to happen.

Phuket's days of "selling the dream" are over.

Why not? There is a Chinatown in every major city in the world just about.

[hansgruber]

Seoul has no soul and neither do the people. That's the problem.

[KarenBravo]

Another clear indication that even the Koreans are sick of Phuket. The only thing left is the Russians and Chinese. Russians are depleting due to the collapse of the Ruble and I wonder how many more deaths of Chinese citizens it will take before they decide not to come to Phuket.

There's a clear message here for Phuket and Thailand as a whole but as usual the Thai gov will ignore it and insist the people are happy and that Thailand remains the #1 nation on the earth.

Still banging the same old drum, I see.

Nothing to do with Koreans being "sick of Phuket".

Thai can't compete with Korean Airlines and Asiana Airlines that each have six flights a week on the same route.

I flew Seoul to Phuket at the end of November on Korean Airlines because Asiana was full.

Edited January 31, 2015 by KarenBravo

[2fishin2]

Seoul has no soul and neither do the people. That's the problem.

You are very wrong about that....

I first went to Korea in 1979. Back then Farm tractors were a major source of transportation, only brand of car was Kia, women could not cote, drive cars and were not allowed in business. Heating in the brutal cold was done by charcoal heated water under floors. There was nothing modern about the country at all back then.

Today, the country is run by a woman and its one of the largest and strongest economies in the world. Olympics in 1988. The list of achievements could go on and on. Samsung one of the most exported and popular brands in the world and especially here in Thailand.

Very little corruption compared to the unscrupulous place. Cops friendly and take care of you. Very safe walking down he street anytime day or night, no worry about drug induced kids driving around in motorbikes stealing from tourists.

Where is Thailand? In a state of disarray and chaos with an army in charge. No progress in anything. Thailand is lost, without direction and guidance in dire need of people with worldly smarts.

So back to point....Thai Air is faltering because there arent people in charge with any business sense. Its about to go bankrupt.

Air Asia and Korean Air couple of the best in the world.

So where's the "Seoul"....

[KarenBravo]

The word Seoul, in the Korean language translates to Capital.

[stevenl]

Another clear indication that even the Koreans are sick of Phuket. The only thing left is the Russians and Chinese. Russians are depleting due to the collapse of the Ruble and I wonder how many more deaths of Chinese citizens it will take before they decide not to come to Phuket.

There's a clear message here for Phuket and Thailand as a whole but as usual the Thai gov will ignore it and insist the people are happy and that Thailand remains the #1 nation on the earth.

Yes, and the Spanish and Russians are sick of Bangkok.

Sorry, but a load of crock. The only indication this gives us is that Thai Airways has made a mess of things and is trying to clean the house now.

[LivinginKata]

Another clear indication that even the Koreans are sick of Phuket. The only thing left is the Russians and Chinese. Russians are depleting due to the collapse of the Ruble and I wonder how many more deaths of Chinese citizens it will take before they decide not to come to Phuket.

There's a clear message here for Phuket and Thailand as a whole but as usual the Thai gov will ignore it and insist the people are happy and that Thailand remains the #1 nation on the earth.

Yes, and the Spanish and Russians are sick of Bangkok.

Sorry, but a load of crock. The only indication this gives us is that Thai Airways has made a mess of things and is trying to clean the house now.

Exactly, Thai airlines has major financial problems. They are down sizing across the board as fast as they can.

[NamKangMan]

The CEO of Thai Airways needs to have a meeting with the CEO's of all the other airlines and tell them they must all charge the same price as Thai Airways, otherwise, they will not be allowed to land in Thailand.

[Bogan Koori]

The CEO of Thai Airways needs to have a meeting with the CEO's of all the other airlines and tell them they must all charge the same price as Thai Airways, otherwise, they will not be allowed to land in Thailand.

It's well known that all airlines price fix. I think it was Singapore Airlines got busted with Qantas with regards to freight charges

[NamKangMan]

Seoul has no soul and neither do the people. That's the problem.

You are very wrong about that....

I first went to Korea in 1979. Back then Farm tractors were a major source of transportation, only brand of car was Kia, women could not cote, drive cars and were not allowed in business. Heating in the brutal cold was done by charcoal heated water under floors. There was nothing modern about the country at all back then.

Today, the country is run by a woman and its one of the largest and strongest economies in the world. Olympics in 1988. The list of achievements could go on and on. Samsung one of the most exported and popular brands in the world and especially here in Thailand.

Very little corruption compared to the unscrupulous place. Cops friendly and take care of you. Very safe walking down he street anytime day or night, no worry about drug induced kids driving around in motorbikes stealing from tourists.

Where is Thailand? In a state of disarray and chaos with an army in charge. No progress in anything. Thailand is lost, without direction and guidance in dire need of people with worldly smarts.

So back to point....Thai Air is faltering because there arent people in charge with any business sense. Its about to go bankrupt.

Air Asia and Korean Air couple of the best in the world.

So where's the "Seoul"....

This caught my eye a while ago.

A big company such as Maersk much have a lot of confidence in Korea to give them this contract.

The biggest ship ever built - just a random article from google.

http://petapixel.com/2014/10/10/photos-largest-ship-world-built-south-korea/