sydney to phuket direct flights to stop

[JAM]

Thai Airways ends Sydney to Phuket flights

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January 23, 2006 - 4:45PM
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Thai Airways International is suspending direct flight services linking the resort island of Phuket with Sydney and Melbourne from February 1 because of high operating costs and low passenger yields.

Vasing Kittikul, Thai Airways commercial department executive vice president, said while there has been an increase overall in traffic between Thailand and Australia, the three scheduled direct flights to Phuket were unprofitable.

Thai International launched the direct services to Phuket in 2003 and was aimed at promoting tourism directly from Australia.

But the service had achieved a seating yield capacity of just 62 to 65 per cent short of the more than 70 per cent needed to break even, he said.

Vasing also blamed sharply higher costs due to fuel prices for the decision. he said.

Thai Airways currently offers 14 Bangkok-Sydney flights a week and 11 Bangkok-Melbourne flights plus Bangkok-Melbourne flights.

He said there would be no change to the current schedule between Bangkok and Australia but there has been an increase in the number of direct flights between Australia and New Zealand.

On the domestic routes, THAI offers as many as 12 daily flight services between Bangkok and Phuket, with an average over the year of 10 flights a day.

Thai International is relying on its main network routes especially from the Asia region as well as the European Kangaroo Route flights into Australia.

Thailand's Tourism Authority (TAT) is forecasting a 13 per cent increase in international arrivals in 2006 to 15.12 million. In 2005 an estimated 400,000 Australians travelled to Thailand.

AAP

[stevem]

This has been on the table for some time now. Australian Airlines have started Sydney/Phuket non stop flights

[K2]

Originally Posted by stevem

This has been on the table for some time now. Australian Airlines have started Sydney/Phuket non stop flights

How much Steve? And is that SYD-HKT-SYD ?

[stevem]

Originally Posted by K2

How much Steve? And is that SYD-HKT-SYD ?

Yep, they non stop flights.

I believe that they are stopping at the end of this month, but will be starting again when Qantas transfer another 767 to Australian, which is scheduled to happen soon, but the Qantas 767's are getting a bit worn inside

I have seen just airfare for about AUD$800 ex SYD.

Although Phuket will probably become a regular scheduled destination from Australia later this year, when Qantas transfer their Airbus A330's to Jetstar.

[Rizzamabob]

I was on the melb>phuket direct flight had a rather old 747, and there were quite a few people on board, maybe not full but a lot of people.... This kind of sucks, the transfer from bangkok is just a hassle, i had to do ****ing laps in the sky for 2 hours because of the military when i was going from phuket > bangkok Mind you the A340-600 i came back on from bangkok > melbourne was REALLY nice.

[big mitch]

[quote=stevem]Yep, they non stop flights.

I believe that they are stopping at the end of this month, but will be starting again when Qantas transfer another 767 to Australian, which is scheduled to happen soon, but the Qantas 767's are getting a bit worn inside


AA's are seasonal are they not?, I think they start up again in the second half of the year. It's a damn shame, coz its a top flight. Have you heard of this website www.travel.com.au, they have some good packages and the cheapest outright prices to anywhere. Generally you can get too bangkok from SYD or MEL from under 900 incl tax(i always do).

[stevem]

Originally Posted by big mitch

AA's are seasonal are they not?, I think they start up again in the second half of the year. It's a damn shame, coz its a top flight.

They have been seasonal, but they are planning on a more permanent schedule once Qantas mainline transfers more aircraft to the Aussie fleet.

Will be interesting to see what Jetstar come up with once the Qantas A330's are transferred to them.

[K2]

When time allows want to get down to Oz (more likely next year than this) - hopefully will be a direct service available. Thanks for updates.

[stevem]

Originally Posted by K2

When time allows want to get down to Oz (more likely next year than this) - hopefully will be a direct service available. Thanks for updates.

If not Singapore is an easy transfer. Let us know when!!!

[djaust]

As Steve said they have been seasonal but are looking at making the two flights a week that are currently on the schedule permanent with Australian Airlines. I have heard talk from people in the know that say that it is just a matter of time. It was also interesting to read that although Thai have just cancelled there direct flights that at a recent meeting of hotel heads and TAT members in phuket recently that they will be pushing Thai airways for more direct flights from Australia, Japan and Korea. So it will be interesting to see what is going to happen in the near future. As for Australian airlines I know there having meetings and I suspect that as Steve said once they free up some aircraft it will be a permanent route.