Search Results for: flight slots

  • Business News

    Airlines request more flight slots into Thailand, CAAT reveals

    A request for slot redistribution has been lodged by several airlines as they plan to increase flights into Thailand, reveals an insider from the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT). This request was presented to CAAT’s top executives at the 153rd Slot Conference that took place in Dubai from November 14 to 17. This biannual gathering, arranged by the International…

  • Phuket News

    Go-Air seeks more flight slots into Thailand amid increasing demand

    PHOTO: Indian weddings are on the rise along with a big leap in new Indian tourism traffic to Phuket Indian-based budget carrier GoAir is looking for additional flying slots into Thailand airports amid growing air passenger traffic. The GoAir Vice-President Arjun Dasgupta says the airline wants to launch flights from seven more Indian cities, including Chandigarh and Lucknow, to Phuket.…

  • Business News

    Flight cancellations: Chinese airlines slash 40% of slots amid Thai tourism slowdown

    The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) witnessed a substantial number of flight slot cancellations by Chinese airlines, accounting for over 40% of total cancellations across Thailand’s airports. The CAAT director, Suttipong Kongpool, highlighted that such cancellations are not unusual and are often a result of fluctuating travel demand. Airline companies frequently resort to such measures in order to maintain…

  • Thailand News

    Thailand takes flight with airlines to boost tourism in 2024

    The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is soaring to new heights, actively courting partnerships with a sky-high count of 11 international airlines to elevate both burgeoning and established markets in the latter part of this year. With the long-haul market expected to fly in at least 770 billion baht from a soaring flock of 10.8 million foreign visitors in 2024,…

  • Thailand News

    Thailand’s visa exemption policy for Chinese unaffected despite low flight demand

    Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin yesterday announced that the government’s visa exemption policy for Chinese citizens remains unaffected amidst the cancellation of flight slots by several Chinese airlines due to low passenger demand. These airlines had previously secured slots for flights to Thailand, inclusive of ground handling services for their aircraft, only to relinquish their landing and take-off rights due to…

  • Phuket News

    First flight from Russia’s Red Wings Airlines makes its way to Phuket

    Russian tourists are continuing to flock to Thailand’s holiday paradise of Phuket. Yesterday morning, officials and staff at Phuket International Airport welcomed the first Red Wings Airlines flight from Zhukovsky, Russia, to Phuket. The flight carried 400 passengers. Earlier this month, it was reported that Russians were Thailand’s fourth largest tourist group this year, with a total of 115,743 tourists so…

  • Thailand News

    Koh Samui welcomes inaugural flight from Chengdu, China

    On Sunday, Koh Samui Airport in Surat Thani province, southern Thailand, welcomed a flight from Chengdu in China for the first time in over three years. Chengdu Airlines flight EU2807 landed in Koh Samui at 5.40pm with 130 Chinese tourists on board. Samui Airport held a special welcome ceremony for the inaugural flight by using fire engines to spray water…

  • Phuket News

    Five airlines launch direct flights between Phuket and China this week

    Five airlines are launching direct flights between China and Phuket in southern Thailand this week. The services will connect Phuket to Shanghai, Nanjing, and Chengdu. Today, Phuket will welcome three direct flights from Shanghai on Spring Airlines, Shanghai Airlines, and Juneyao Airlines. All three services will fly daily. Juneyao Airlines’ inaugural daily direct service from Nanjing will also land on…

  • Tourism News

    A cheap flight to Thailand? Don’t bank on it anytime soon

    Looking for a cheap flight to Thailand? Don’t count on it just yet says airline industry executives. The world’s industry chiefs made known, as if we didn’t already know, that airfares are expensive and they expect to remain that way for the time being. Flights are pricey for a number of reasons, ranging from surging fuel costs, labour shortages, and…

  • Hot News

    Tourism operators demand cheaper flights to Phuket

    Phuket tourism operators are demanding that airlines cut ticket prices to make the island destination more financially attractive. As Chinese tourists are largely missing from the Phuket tourism market, operators are worried that travelling to the island is being seen as too expensive. According to The Bangkok Post, Chinese tourists accounted for 40% of the Phuket tourism market before the…

  • Tourism News

    International flights into Thailand up 24% from last month

    While the tourism industry is still a long way from recovering from the Covid-19 pandemic, the high season is getting underway, and international flights to Thailand have increased more than 20%. Airports of Thailand reported the increase last night. AoT reported 9,483 of the flights scheduled in landing slots into Thailand were originating from international cities this month, which is…

  • Tourism News

    Finnair launches nonstop flights from Stockholm to Phuket

    Finnair has launched its nonstop flight service from Stockholm to Phuket, with the first flight arriving on October 25. The Nordic region has traditionally brought many big-spending tourists to Phuket and Thailand, and Finnair will operate flights twice a week from Sweden’s capital to Phuket. The flights are great news after reports that many international carriers are dropping their slots…

  • Tourism News

    Phuket Sandbox growing with 33 airlines requesting flights

    The Phuket Sandbox is slowly bringing international travellers back to Thailand, and while it’s had a few problems, signs indicate that confidence is growing in the scheme. With El Al, Emirates, Etihad, and Qatar Airways bringing in flights from the Middle East, Singapore Airlines connecting people in Southeast Asia, and Thai Airways operating 5 flights from Europe, international flights are…

  • Tourism News

    Krabi schedules 82 flights per week from late October

    Despite no official legal plans to reopen Thailand to international tourism, and perhaps on the heels of PM Prayut’s surprise announcement in a speech Wednesday that he intends to fully reopen Thailand by mid-October, 8 airlines received slots for international flights into Krabi from the end of October. The allotment was determined as part of the IATA Slot Conference, this…

  • Thailand News

    Thailand News Today | Rayong cluster, Samut Sakhon Gov Covid+, flights ‘quiet’ | Dec 28

    The CCSA has reported 144 new Covid-19 infections today – 115 local infections, 14 migrant workers and 15 quarantined arrivals. The total number of cases in Thailand, since February is 6,285. 2,045 people are currently receiving medical treatment in Thailand for the coronavirus. The local infections are all linked to the cluster in Samut Sakhon 10 days ago. The current…

  • Tourism News

    Taiwan’s Eva Air adds direct flights to Phuket from next April

    by Bill Barnett of c9hotelworks.com As the tourist demographic matures and evolves, so does the airline mix landing in Phuket. Now Phuket’s direct international airlift is set to increase again with non-stop flights from Taipei, Taiwan on Eva Air. The island’s airline traffic is already almost booked out for the next few months with Phuket International Airport officials asking airlines…

  • Phuket News

    No ban on chartered flights, confirms AoT Phuket official

    PHUKET: Phuket International Airport has no plans to ban chartered flights, despite a Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) directive ordering the airport to give priority to commercial passenger flights, an AoT Phuket official confirmed today. “Chartered flights have not been banned from landing at Phuket Airport. However, we must follow the DCA’s directive, which states that commercial passenger airlines with…

  • Business News

    Thailand targets top 20 ranking for Suvarnabhumi Airport by 2029

    The Ministry of Transport is aiming to elevate Suvarnabhumi International Airport into the world’s top 20 airports by 2029, aligning with the government’s ambition to make Thailand a global aviation hub, according to government spokesperson Chai Wacharonke yesterday. Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit set the target following Suvarnabhumi Airport’s ranking of 58th on the 2024 World’s Best…

  • Thailand News

    Thailand aims to become regional aviation hub by 2030

    Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin unveiled a vision to transform the country into a regional aviation hub as part of the Ignite Thailand, Aviation Hub initiative, aiming to enhance Thailand’s capacity and attractiveness in the aviation sector. The Bangkok-born prime minister stressed the need to address existing problems before upgrading the aviation hub. Suvarnabhumi International Airport, once ranked 13th globally, has fallen…

  • Business News

    Chiang Mai tourism recovery slower than expected despite visa-free policy

    Despite the gradual revival of tourism, a significant number of rooms in Chiang Mai‘s hotels and the international airport remain unoccupied, with the return of travellers seemingly slower than anticipated post-pandemic. Adding to the concerns is the anticipated PM2.5 dust during the peak season. Over the weekend, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin undertook an inspection of the airport in light of…

  • Thailand News

    On the right track: Thailand’s new transport minister charts course for infrastructure upgrade

    Newly appointed Transport Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit yesterday committed to enhancing Thailand’s logistics network, focusing primarily on the country’s railway and maritime transport infrastructure. In his first press briefing, Suriya stated that strategic plans are underway and will be made public in the coming week. Highlighting the importance of the logistics sector, which contributes nearly 15% to Thailand’s gross domestic product…

  • Business News

    Tourism revival in Thailand risks airport slot overcrowding, suggests alternative options

    In anticipation of the upcoming high season, Thailand’s Tourism Authority (TAT) expressed concerns over the slot capacity at international airports. As more flights are set to resume, it is predicted that the country will receive around 8 million tourists this year, primarily derived from long-haul markets anticipating a significant tourism revival. The deputy governor for Europe, Africa, the Middle East,…

  • Business News

    TAT anticipates Chinese tourist arrivals to reach 1 million per month in October

    The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) anticipates that Chinese tourists could reach one million arrivals per month by October, similar to figures from 2019. An increase in flight capacity during the high season and resolving e-visa issues are factors expected to contribute to this growth. Chuwit Sirivejkul, TAT’s Regional Director of Marketing for East Asia, expressed confidence that Chinese tourist…

  • Tourism News

    PM’s plan to tackle soaring cost of air ticket prices in Thailand

    Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has taken charge to address the soaring prices of air tickets with a comprehensive five-point plan. The plan comes after Deputy Transport Minister Atirat Ratanasate informed the ministry of the measures taken and those in the pipeline to address the substantial hikes due to the surge in demand after the Covid-19 pandemic and the recent decision…

  • Thailand News

    TAT’s grand plan to attract 39 million tourists to Thailand

    The Tourist Authority of Thailand (TAT) called for a major budget increase to boost tourism revenue to a staggering 3.5 trillion baht in 2024, attracting more tourists. The Thai government is aiming high, with an ambitious goal to lure no fewer than 39 million international tourists to its stunning shores throughout 2024. To achieve this, the TAT is pushing for…

  • Thailand News

    Thai tourism sector proposes 300-baht tax to counter over-tourism

    Thai tourism operators are advocating for government regulations to address the rising issue of over-tourism in the country. They propose the implementation of a 300-baht tourism tax, which they believe could alleviate the problem. Their call for action comes in response to Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin’s commitment to make 2025 a pivotal year for Thai tourism. The Federation of Thai…

  • Thailand News

    Bangkok Airways soars to new heights with Sabre

    Bangkok Airways has solidified its long-standing collaboration with Sabre, the global leader in innovative travel technology. The Suvarnabhumi International Airport-based carrier, renowned for its extensive network spanning over 20 regional destinations, including Cambodia, China, Laos, Maldives, and Singapore, has reaffirmed its commitment to Sabre’s cutting-edge solutions. Chulin Kocharoen, Vice President of Network and Product Development at Bangkok Airways, expressed the…

  • Business News

    Former TAT governor urges government to boost Chinese visitor numbers

    The former Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) governor urged the government to reconsider its tourism strategy to improve the dwindling Chinese market. Predictions for this year suggest that arrivals from China will only total 26.8% of the 2019 level. Former TAT governor Yuthasak Supasorn suggested that the government should negotiate with China to secure more flight routes and slots for Thai…

  • Thailand News

    Thai PM’s diplomatic tour to boost ties, revive tourism hit by mall shooting

    Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin embarks on a five-day tour to Hong Kong and three ASEAN nations, beginning Sunday. The journey commences from the Royal Thai Air Force’s (RTAF) terminal at Don Mueang Airport, with the Airbus 320 aircraft setting course for Hong Kong. Post the Hong Kong visit, the premier’s itinerary includes Singapore, Brunei, and Malaysia, with his return scheduled…

  • Business News

    Thai PM’s ‘spice of life’ plan: Srettha Thavisin to boost Thai-Indian tourism in Modi meet

    Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin announced his impending visit to India, scheduled for later this year, with an agenda to discuss boosting Indian tourism in Thailand with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The two leaders aim to resolve ongoing issues with visa application procedures and achieve approval for a visa-free policy for Indian tourists. Srettha told the media yesterday that he…