Thai air news

Thai Airways International (THAI) began offering flights to and from Chiang Mai and Luang Prabang on 29^th November three flights a week on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays. In late October, THAI introduced direct flights to the resort island of Phuket from Sydney and Melbourne and vice versa on Sundays, Mondays and Thursdays. It also introduced three weekly flights from Chiang Mai and Bangkok to Taipei and Hong Kong, and vice versa. After two years of deferral, the airline will again be offering flights to and from Phuket and Osaka three times a week. THAI also began offering services from Bangkok to Chennai in India and Guilin in China two and three times a week, respectively. The airline launched a service to and from Chiang Mai and Tokyo three days a week, on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays.

THAI has just announced the creation of its budget airline, SkyAsia, which will begin offering services in April. Details of the airlines flight schedule will be available in the coming weeks.

AirAsia Aviation

Malaysia-based AirAsia Aviation (AAA), in partnership with the Shin Corporation, will begin offering domestic and international services in Thailand as AirAsia Thailand. The airline’s first regional flight service began 8^th December to and from Phuket and Kuala Lumpur. Beginning 2^nd February 2004, flights to and from Bangkok and Johor Bahru in Malaysia will commence. More flights will be available soon to Chiang Mai and Khon Kaen, as well as major cities in China, India, Indonesia and Malaysia.

Orient Thai Airways began offering flights to and from Bangkok and Chiang Mai on 5^th December.

Bangkok Airways began offering direct flights from Bangkok and Koh Samui to Krabi and vice versa twice a day. As of 25^th October, the airline stopped all of its flights to and from Bangkok and Hua Hin indefinitely. The year-old service was dropped from the airline’s schedule due to a decline in passengers. On 26^th October, the airline began offering daily direct flights from Bangkok and Samui to Krabi, and vice versa.

Phuket Airlines’s daily evening service to and from Bangkok and Phuket, which was suspended in July, has been resumed and will depart Bangkok in the morning. Flights from Bangkok to Had Yai and Ranong, and vice versa, commenced on 5^th December four times a week and a new daily service to and from Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai began on 20^th October. Expect direct flights to and from Chiang Rai and Mae Hong Son soon.

Due to a lack of funds and operational problems, the Thai-based Angel Air has cancelled all of its flights and services.

Hong Kong-based Dragonair started a new twice-daily service to Bangkok on 1^st November and has also opened an office in Bangkok.

Orient Thai Airlines’ low-fare airline, One-Two-Go, which began operations on 1^st December, will be expanding its services due to the demand for affordable flights in Thailand. The service to and from Bangkok and Chiang Mai will be increased, with flights to Phuket, Khon Kaen, Chiang Rai and Hat Yai being added soon. The airline will be leasing or purchasing more aircraft this year to add to its fleet of two.

Phuket

Make room for Best Western Hotels

In November, the 180-room Phuket Ocean Resort at Karon Beach, now part of the Best Western Hotels chain, was renamed the Best Western Phuket Ocean Resort. Best Western Hotels also opened a new resort on Bang Tao Beach, the Best Western Premier Bang Tao Resort and Spa, which offers 199 rooms and deluxe accommodations.

EXO PICKS: Thailand’s Boutique Resorts

Guests stay in a hotel to get some sleep. Pleasure-seeking guests stay at a boutique hotel, which do not exceed 150 rooms and distinguish themselves by not being standard, to be pampered by a warm atmosphere, relaxing services and staff that know their names. A recent revival in traditional Thai Lanna architecture helps boutique hotels do this by etching intimacy and serenity into the architecture of the building and design of the rooms.

Tamarind Village in Chiang Mai

Boutique hotels in city destinations, usually located in the heart of dynamic cities with vibrant economies, promote technology, modernism and trendy, lively entertainment, such as a hip restaurant and bar. The Tamarind Village in Chiang Mai, an example of a boutique hotel in a city setting, offers spacious, village-style accommodations in a traditional setting that exudes convention and tranquillity. Not even the hustle and bustle of the city will filter into the resort’s peaceful atmosphere.

Puchaisai Resort in Chiang Rai

Boutique hotels in resort destinations, hidden away in remote locations, shy away from technology and instead offer guests amenities such as rose petal baths, private pools, honeymoon packages and painting lessons. At these boutique hotels, eco-tourism is combined with modern comforts to produce the ideal environment for today’s traveller. At the Puchaisai Resort in Chiang Rai, guests are encouraged to get in touch with nature while enjoying a traditional Thai massage, strolling through lush tropical gardens or enjoying a light breakfast at the The Phu View Restaurant. The Baan Mai Resort, located on the tiny unspoiled island of Koh Lone near Phuket, offers rubber workshops, day treks and excursions to surrounding islands. And at the Cliff View Resort, located in the jungles of Kanchanaburi on the banks of the Kwai Noi River, bask in raft houses and cottages that offer relaxation and lazy days.