Osaka-Phuket direct flights begin

PHUKET TOWN: Thai Airways International (THAI) has begun direct flights from Osaka, Japan, to Phuket using a 200-seat Airbus. The thrice-weekly service, on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays service, designated as flight TG-637, leaves Osaka at 1:25 am and arrives in Phuket at 6:35 am local time. The service got underway on October 27, the same day as the new THAI route to Phuket from Sydney and Melbourne in Australia. Airline officials say that the two new services are important steps forward in establishing Phuket as Thailand’s southern air hub. Viset Sontichai, Upper-Southern Thailand District Sales Manager for THAI, told the Gazette that passengers aboard the maiden flight route were treated to a special dinner at Thainaan restaurant to commemorate the event. Their return trip to Osaka, however, is likely to be less eventful – and will take longer. As yet there are no direct return flights, so passengers are required to fly first to Bangkok, from where they will catch the flight home.