Jetstar Asia announces Phuket “daily double’

PHUKET CITY: Jetstar Asia Airways held a press conference on Tuesday to announce a second daily flight on its Singapore – Phuket route starting on December 15.

The Singapore-based low-cost carrier will also increase weekend flights to the island and increase the number of  flights on its Sydney – Phuket route from three to five per week.

The increases will raise the number of inbound tourists the carrier flies to Phuket each week to 6,000.

The conference, held at the Royal Phuket City Hotel in Phuket Town, was led by Jetstar Asia head of commerce Leslie Ng.

Flights on the Singapore – Phuket route will be aboard a180-seat Airbus 320 aircraft.

Bookings have increased 18 percent this year in spite of the bad world economy because passengers are more likely to choose budget carriers like Jetstar in the current financial climate, Mr Ng said.

Singapore to Phuket flights start at just 680 baht, not including fuel surcharge and airport tax, he said.

Demand for flights over the Christmas and Chinese New Year holidays are particularly high, with flights already 90 percent booked, he said.

— Hasan Che-aware