Bangkok Airways connects Bangalore and Thailand

Bangalore (IANS): Asia’s boutique airline Bangkok Airways has connected the Thai capital of Bangkok with India’s Information Technology hub Bangalore.

It is targeting business and leisure travellers from South India wishing to see exotic tourist and pilgrim destinations in Thailand and other South East Asian countries.

“As a vibrant city thriving on knowledge economy, Bangalore will be our gateway to business and leisure travellers from south India to Bangkok and onward tourist and pilgrim destinations across Thailand and South East Asia,” Bangkok Airways President Puttipong Prasarttong-Osoth told reporters here Tuesday.

From Bangalore, the 43-year-old private airline will initially fly Airbus-319 five times a week, except Mondays and Fridays. The return flight from Bangkok will not include Thursdays and Sundays.

“We will start a daily overnight flight from December when we get new aircraft and offer 12 business class seats and 108 economy class seats,” Puttipong said.

Fliers who book by 31 October to travel by 15 December can avail of the promotional fare of Rs. 5,900 for economy class and Rs. 23,000 for business class, excluding airport taxes, insurance and fuel surcharge.

“We hope to soon achieve passenger load factors of 60-70 per cent per flight on the new route as there is huge potential for outbound traffic from Bangalore to Thailand and other South East Asian destinations,” Puttipong pointed out.

Exotic locales across Thailand such as Krabi, Lampang, Pattaya, Phuket, Samui, Sukhothai and Trat are popular tourist spots and religious centres with ancient temples and monuments.

The airline forayed into India in March this year with a daily flight from Mumbai to Bangkok and connecting onward to destinations such as Hong Kong, Luang Prabang, Phanom Penh, Siem Reap, Singapore and Yangon. From Mumbai it also connected to the Maldives.

“Within six months of launching our service from Mumbai, we have about 70 per cent load factor to and fro. Though there is intense competition from other and full-fledged airlines such as Thai Airways and SilkAir of Singapore Airlines, we have been able to attract enough attention by our quality of service, punctuality and affordable fare,” Puttipong noted.

The airline plans to start a similar service from Lucknow, New Delhi, Kolkata and Chennai after securing rights and code share agreements with Indian private carriers like Kingfisher Airlines.

Though visa to Thailand can be availed from its embassy in New Delhi and consulates in Chennai and Mumbai, Indian passengers can also get tourist visa on arrival at Bangkok airport. Kingfisher now offers services to 59 domestic and eight international destinations with a fleet of 66 aircraft.