Destination Air Shuttle Takes Off In Phuket

[george]

Destination Air Shuttle takes off in Phuket, Thailand to bring better access in the Andaman Sea

PHUKET: -- FaresProDestination Air Shuttle, Thailand’s only seaplane shuttle service, will officially launch services from Phuket International Airport beginning January 2007. Offering 12 flights per day, leaving every 2 hours from Phuket International Airport, Destination Air Shuttle will serve Phi Phi Island, Krabi and Koh Lanta. Further landing locations are planned for Similans, Koh Racha, and Khao Lak.

Destination Air Shuttle provides reliable, safe and regular air shuttle services that will connect with international airlines arriving to Phuket. This significantly reduces the travel time from the usual half-day overland trip to less than 13 minutes to Phi Phi, 20 minutes to Krabi, and 30 minutes to Koh Lanta giving better accessibility in the region. It departs from Phuket International Airport and lands directly in the waterfront of most major hotel resorts.

As the only seaplane shuttle service in Thailand, guests can expect Service Reliability by reserving their flights through travel agents or directly through the Destination Air Shuttle website (destinationair.com). Upon arrival, passengers will take transfers from the international and domestic baggage claim area to the Destination Air Shuttle terminal, a short 200 meters, adjoining the main terminal.

Passengers will board one of Destination Air Shuttle’s passenger amphibian aircraft that take off from the runway and land in front of their island resort. Its fleet includes Cessna 208 and 206 aircraft, which are rated as the safest aircraft in the world and flown by experienced international pilots individually selected for their many years of safe flight experience and friendly customer service capabilities.

Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) President and CEO Mr. Peter de Jong said: “Accessibility is a key success factor for any destination. The Thai Andaman region already enjoys international and domestic accessibility via Phuket International Airport; however, Destination Air Shuttle’s local service will distribute the benefits of international and domestic travel much more broadly. Destination Air Shuttle will open up new markets and opportunities for local people and the travel and tourism industry across a much wider geographic area. That’s great news for Thailand. We’re proud to have Destination Air Shuttle on board as a PATA member, and wish it and the region it serves a most prosperous 2007.”

Capt. Nithit Kesangam, CEO of Destination Air Shuttle, said: “This is an outstanding service to hotels and tour operators in the Phuket area. This is a fantastic shot in the arm for hotels and tourists going to Phi Phi, Krabi, and Koh Lanta.”

Destination Air Shuttle starts its regular flights in January 2007. For information on flight schedules, routes and ticket prices, visit www.destinationair.com.

--etravelblackboard.com Press Release 2006-12-27

[smartecosse]

just another thing for snorklers to look out for

[Old Croc]

If they could use these things for the short hop to Patong Beach it could solve the airport limo ripoffs.

After a while it might have an impact on the jetskis as well!

[khall64au]

just another thing for snorklers to look out for

Saves a 6 hour drive to lanta....

[donna]

funny thing is i have emailed the company about 3 days ago for pricing, but not heard from them yet!

[kasi]

funny thing is i have emailed the company about 3 days ago for pricing, but not heard from them yet!

It's unlikely the operation will fly.

Fixed operating costs are very high.

The local government will be less than helpful due to it being a foreign owned business.

Even if it does take off it will take some deep pockets to keep it going.

If the local officials were smart they would see the benefit of improving the access to the islands around here and offer a subsidy for the operation. The chances of that happening are less than zero I think.

[naka]

I wonder how old the planes are

Naka.

[LaoPo]

funny thing is i have emailed the company about 3 days ago for pricing, but not heard from them yet!

Maybe because they're not operational yet (from February 1, 2007).

They have a link for a flight from Phuket to Phi-Phi (excursion) with prices:

http://www.destinationair.com/excursion_tour.htm

Not cheap, but sounds like fun.

Routemap:

LP

[simon43]

I emailed them asking about 'agency' rates etc. I did get a reply. However, the agency commission is a mere 5%, unlike other Phuket attractions which typically offer 15%. So it would be difficult to justify promoting these flights to my customers.

Simon

[donna]

i ended up getting a reply from these guys. and, yes, its the same 5% commission. on a 15,000thb return fare to phi phi, the commission is 750thb. normally it will be two people traveling, so you'd more than likely end up with 1,500thb. im not sure if that includes transfers or not (i havent read the literature completely yet).

but i think it would be a great way to get to phi phi or any other surrounding areas. where i work, we have a high end clientele and i am sure that we could plug this to them. some of our clients actually just spent 80,000 for two boat charters and didnt blink an eye at it. so there will be a market for this kind of thing, just a very small one.

[LaoPo]

Simon43 and Donna:

why don't you bond together, talk to them and kindly persuade them to offer a higher commission...?

If you don't ask....(tell them) you never know...

LaoPo

[donna]

i suspect that they would want to see numbers first. but its a catch 22 situation. without the decent commission, you wont promote it. and without promoting it, you dont have the numbers. i suspect that 5% is the industry norm when it comes to flights and they are just following that.

but its definitely worth a thought LaoPo. i will take a look at the information and then contact them to see what they say.

[Little Black Duck]

My God I could fly to Perth Return for That kind of Money..

I dont want to hear the Samuians Moaning about BKK Airways anymore..