SGA Airlines is now offering flights between Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai, Mae Hong Son, Pai and Nan at affordable prices of less than 2000 THB per person for a one-way ticket. Flights are operated on 12-seater Cessna 208B Grand Caravan planes which come with large side-windows. Each flight lasts around 50 minutes and can be included into any Northern Thailand itinerary. Besides offering a faster mode of travel between two cities, a scenic flight also makes a fantastic and exciting experience, especially for those traveling with children. Please contact thailand@exotissimo.com for more information, route schedules and pricing details.

Vietnam Airlines has increased the number of flights on several international routes. The airline added an extra flight per week to Paris and Frankfurt and launched direct flights to Copenhagen for Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) and Hanoi. For Asian routes, the flight frequency from HCMC to Bangkok has doubled to a total of 14 flights per week. From this November, AirAsia is introducing direct daily flights from Phuket to HCMC.

Bangkok Airways (PG) flight services between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap will be suspended with effect from 25 October 2009 and the last flights will be operated on 24 October 2009. The Cambodian government has not renewed the airline’s permit following the founding of the new national carrier Cambodia Angkor Air (K6).

Exotissimo Cambodia is rescheduling all flight bookings to Cambodia Angkor Air, which offers 4-5 daily flights between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap on an ATR72-500 propeller aircraft, the same type of aircraft operated by Bangkok Airways on this route. The safety standards and services provided by Cambodia Angkor Air are of a similar standard to those of Bangkok Airways. For more information, contact cambodia@exotissimo.com.

On 28 July 2009, Cambodia launched a new national carrier, Cambodia Angkor Air (CAA) as a joint venture with Vietnam Airlines. Flying on ATR-72-500 aircrafts, CAA services domestic routes between Phnom Penh to Siem Reap and Sihanoukville as well as regional routes from Phnom Penh to Ho Chi Minh City. The Ho Chi Minh City flights are well connected to many Vietnamese destinations with the extensive Vietnam Airlines network.

Attractive CAA promotional fares are now valid until 31 August 2009. The long-awaited Siem Reap-Sihanoukville route is scheduled to be opened in October. Contact cambodia@exotissimo.com for more information.

At 13.00 today (5 August) the Koh Samui airport reopened and flights have resumed as normal.

A Bangkok Airways plane crashed earlier today at the Koh Samui airport. There were no Exotissimo clients on board this airplane. Flights to and from Koh Samui are currently suspended but we are expecting them to resume this evening or tomorrow morning. We will keep you informed of the updates and will make alternative travel arrangements for clients should the need arise.

Since 1 July 2009, Vietnam Airlines has launched thrice-weekly flights between Ho Chi Minh City and Dong Hoi using Fokker 70 aircrafts. Dong Hoi, in central Vietnam, is an emerging destination famed for its unexplored beaches and location near the Ho Chi Minh Trail.

Flights to/from Pakse Airport will be suspended from 1 July – 30 August 2009 as the airport will be temporarily closed for renovation. During this period, the Lao Airlines will use Savannakhet Airport instead for flights originally scheduled to fly between Pakse and Siem Reap, Luang Prabang or Vientiane. The airlines will also provide shuttle services for passengers between Savannakhet and Pakse airports on the day of the flight. For any clients already booked or wishing to travel to Pakse during this period, Exotissimo will be sure to suggest and arrange alternative transportation as needed.

Vietnam Airlines has placed orders for 39 new aircrafts including Boeing 787-9s, Airbus A350-900s and A321s. After the arrival of these new aircrafts, the airline will conduct maintenance and equipment upgrading of its existing fleet. It will also replace some older aircrafts with newer models between June 2009 and May 2010.

As of 29 March 2009, Thai Airways (TG) has ceased using Don Muang Airport for its domestic flights. All TG international and domestic flights are now operated from Suvarnabhumi Airport.