Bangkok - Samui Thai airways flights

[BobHelm]

I received this email today.

Thai Airways to open Bangkok-Samui flights

BANGKOK: -- Thai Airways International (Thai) will inaugurate daily Bangkok-Samui flights on February 15, according to Chaisak Angkasuwan, director-general of the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA).

Mr. Chaisak said the DCA on Thursday morning met executives of the national flag carrier and Bangkok Airways, a private firm which owns Samui airport.

After the meeting, he told journalists that starting from mid-February, Thai Airways would offer passengers two flights a day from Suvarnabhumi airport to Samui airport.

The opening of the new route is in line with the policy of the Transport Ministry to give more alternatives to passengers.

The airfare is expected to be similar to that currently offered by Bangkok Airways.

The new route is expected to be popular among foreign tourists as they will be able to travel by a direct flight from Suvarnbhumi to Samui's tourist destinations in the southern province of Surat Thani.

But I notice that the cost isn't going down...

[bamboopaul]

Nothing showing on Thai Internationals web sire as yet, If its going to start by Feb15th they are cutting it a bit fine.

Incidentally, you can travel from Suvarnabhumi to Samui now with Bangkok Airways, so nothing new really except a little competition.

[BobHelm]

so nothing new really except a little competition.

That was what I was hoping for Paul as I always thought that the BA flights to Samui were expensive compared to other internal Thai flights. Sadly it looks like the competition isn't going to be on price...

I guess there is a 'direct baggage' advantage if you are coming into Thailand on Thai & going straight onto Samui...

[arjay]

You maybe ought to watch the departure tax at Samui. When I last went there about 5 years ago, it was 400 baht (domestic flights).

It's like landing in a tropical garden with neatly manicured lawns and gardens, and the terminal buildings = huts were similar to Coconut Airways, open-air (no walls) with grass roofs and the odd ceiling fan.

I believe it is owned by Bangkok Airways, who were the only airline to use it until presumably now. They use(d) small turbo-prop aircraft. I don't know how they would cope with an airbus sized plane, or whether Thai would use B737's, but the terminal used to get quite crowded (and warm, being open air) at times.

[bamboopaul]

You are partly right arjay, Bangkok Airways do own the Airport, they impose a 400 Baht departure levy, they use ATR 72 Turbo props and Boeing 717's ( A DC9 basically).
To my knowledge no Airbus has ever landed there, but a Thai airways B737-400 did make several trip on behalf of Bangkok airways when on one occasion a Thai aircraft ran into a Bangkok airways aircraft at Don Muang.

They have a new Terminal now, but still in the old style coconut airways .

The runway is not that long 6,759ft or 2060m whichever you prefer.
Total Passenger movements for 2007 =1,189,154

There is one other airline that operates there and that is Berjaya Air, the run a DeHavilland Dash7 aircraft to Kuala Lumpur on Thursdays and sundays.
Fire fly Airlines were due to begin a service, but not sure if they operate yet.

[beer monkey]

Thai Airways makes first flights to Samui


Thai Airways International (THAI) will this week launch twice-daily flights between Bangkok and Samui Island, targeting European tourists making stopovers in the capital, the national carrier announced Monday.

The daily flights will begin on Thursday using Boeing 737-400 airplanes with a capacity of 149 passengers.

"We aim to make the route very competitive by marketing it to tourists from major European cities currently served by THAI connecting through Suvanarbhumi Airport," said THAI Exectuive Vice President Pandit Chanapai.

THAI expects more than 70 per cent of passengers on its Bangkok-Samui routes to be foreigners.

Pradit described the new route as a "breakthrough" for THAI, the national carrier.

Samui, already one of Thailand's most popular resort islands, has for the past two decades been served exclusively by Bangkok Airways, a private airline that owns the island's only airport.

THAI must pay Bangkok Airways for the use of its airport and ground services in order to gain access to the island. (dpa)

[wazza]

Are they the same prices at BKK Airways ???

[BobHelm]

The original note that I got certainly said the price would be about the same....

[beer monkey]

Cheapest Thai Flight is B3605 inc tax.(according to THAI)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
2 per day.


07:45 Bangkok ( BKK) Thai Airways Intl (TG)
08:55 Koh Samui ( USM)




฿2,800.00
฿3,150.00
฿4,050.00
฿4,500.00
฿3,500.00



16:00 Bangkok ( BKK) Thai Airways Intl (TG)
17:10 Koh Samui ( USM)

* 1h10min


฿2,800.00
฿3,150.00
฿4,050.00
฿4,500.00
฿3,500.00


PLus TAX.!

[BobHelm]

For a journey that is about the same distance as BKK/Udon. EXPENSIVE, but a 'cornered' market still. So pay that or an overnight train & ferry.....