Thai In The Sky
How big an impact will the arrival of Thai Airways at Samui Airport have on the island?
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Two return flights a day from Bangkok to Samui may not seem like such a big deal. However, just the presence of Thai Airways on Samui should not be underestimated. Thai Airways has a global reputation for being an excellent carrier and it has a marketing machine that reaches far and wide.
With Samui now established as a Thai Airways destination, worldwide awareness will undoubtedly be raised. In-flight advertisements, TV commercials and holiday promotions will all encourage new visitors to arrive on the island.
It could be argued that Samui has already developed into a top worldwide destination without Thai Airways providing flights. It’s true that Samui’s growth has been phenomenal since Bangkok Airways built and opened the airport here in 1989. And Bangkok Airways has to be congratulated for opening the island up to the world. It should also be thanked for recognising that the long-awaited inclusion of Thai Airways flights will be a major boost to the island’s economy and popularity.
Thai Airways has links with so many other long-haul destinations that now being able to offer a simple connecting flight will definitely see an increase in tourist numbers.
The Star Alliance network, of which Thai Airways is a key member, operates more than 17,000 daily flights to 897 destinations in 160 countries through a total of 19 international airlines. It will now be possible for regular travellers to build up the flight awards and ‘air-miles’ earned on any Star Alliance flight, and use them to fly all the way to Samui.
Within Asia, Thai Airways International now flies to more countries than any other airline. In fact, Thai now has 13 destinations within Thailand alone; three in the Middle-East; 46 in the Asia Pacific region; two in North America; 12 in Europe and one in South Africa making a total of 67 worldwide destinations in 36 countries. Samui will now benefit by being promoted by Thai on all of these routes.
Initially the flights to Samui will be using Boeing 737-400 aircraft which can carry 149 passengers including 12 Royal Silk Class (business class) passengers. The first daily flight leaves Bangkok at 07:45 arriving on Samui at 08:55; the return flight leaves Samui at 09:35 and lands in Bangkok at 10:45.The second daily flight departs from Bangkok at 16:00 and arrives at 17:10; the return flight leaves Samui at 17:50 arriving in Bangkok at 19:00.
These two flight slots have been specifically chosen to coincide with Thai’s long-haul arrivals and departures at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport. This is because Thai expects 70% of all passengers on its flights to Samui to be overseas travellers.
Mr. Pandit Chanapai, Thai Airway’s Executive Vice President, said, “This is a breakthrough for Thai. Samui is a premier destination. We aim to make the route very competitive by marketing it to tourists from major European cities currently served by Thai and connecting through Suvarnabhumi Airport. In addition, Thai’s policy is to expand its network and connections in order to provide seamless travel and convenience for its passengers.”
As an additional bonus for Samui, Thai Airway’s Royal Orchid Holidays will be promoting special wide-ranging holiday packages, products and services to travellers, which will include options to stay at a selection of 20 hotels on Samui and to enjoy the choice of 11 different tours during their stay.
Competition in any industry is positive. Having choices is what Samui is all about and now people will have some choice in which airline carrier they travel with. Prices of flights are unlikely to be drastically different from those with Bangkok Airways but the important thing is that opportunity to choose.
As far as the future of Samui as a leading international destination goes, this is not just a step in the right direction, it’s a giant leap towards extinguishing any doubts that people may have had about the island and the direction in which it’s heading.
From a real-estate point of view this breakthrough makes the island infinitely more accessible, from a much larger pool of destinations. Therefore, travelling here will be potentially easier and smoother for property owners, and for the tourists who are needed to fill the many rental homes on the island.
In the past, the presence of Thai Airways flights in areas such as Phuket and Chiang Mai has seen rising numbers of visitors and increased international awareness of what those destinations offer. This additional global marketing of the island coincides with the arrival of many international branded hotel groups who, also, will be pushing and promoting Samui through their worldwide networks.
Samui is already well and truly on the map. But with all of the increased attention it’s now seems bigger and bolder, and even more capable of catching the eye of an increased number of travellers. So, the real-estate industry on Samui will undoubtedly benefit because more investors will want to tap into the villa-rental market and more of the new visitors will fall for the island’s many charms and want to buy their own affordable tropical home.
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