Bangkok Airways To Fly To Maldives From Nov 30

[george]

Bangkok Airways To Fly To Maldives From Nov 30

BANGKOK: -- Bangkok Airways (BA), Asia's boutique airline, will resume its Bangkok-Maldives flight on Nov 30 to tap the passenger market from Japan, South Korea and China who are currently flying there through Malaysia and Singapore.

Its vice president of corporate communications, Nandhika Varavarn said the route was revived after almost two years due to the tourism slump following the Dec 26, 2004 tsunami.

Speaking on a television programme Tuesday, Nandhika said a survey carried out by the airline showed that there are potential for the sector and the new Suvarnabhumi Airport could be a hub for travellers going to the island.

"Now passengers going to Maldives, especially from Japan, Korea and China are going through Singapore and Malaysia. All the connections takes them six to eight hours but through Bangkok, they can save about two hours," she said.

Nandhika also said that BA, which currently flies to Hiroshima, would add another destination in Japan with a new flight to Fukuoka in southern Japan starting Dec 9.

In March next year, it will fly to Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam.

BA currently operates 120 domestic and international flights per day, including destinations in China, Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia and Singapore.

After many years serving single class, BA introduced the Blue Ribbon Club Business Class for passengers traveling between Phnom Penh and Bangkok last month, the first time for the airline to serve passengers in business class.

-- BERNAMA 2006-10-18

[listenup]

I can see myself being one of their first customers :-)

[leisurely]

Idea of cost or duration of flight?

Cheers

Leisurely

[Soju]

Idea of cost or duration of flight?

Cheers

Leisurely

Looks like the flight is only on Mondays and Thursdays. Departure is at 14:50 from BKK and arrives in Maldives at 17:00 (don't know what the time difference is there). Return, departs Maldives at 18:00, arrives BKK at 00:30.

Full Y fare, including taxes and fees is 42,120 Baht Roundtrip, M fare is 40,570, and they have a promotional (non-refundable) fare for 20,940 Baht.

Aircraft is an Airbus A320.

Bangkok Air Link

Edited October 19, 2006 by Soju

[leisurely]

At those prices, maybe not.....................

[Soju]

At those prices, maybe not.....................

Yes, one thing Bangkok Air is not known for is cheap prices.

[womble]

What Bangkok airways do is find a route with little or no competition. Then make their flight marginally more expensive than flying via another airport, but ofcourse quicker in time and less fluffing around.