Airline extras

Air New Zealand and Thai Airways International (THAI) have agreed to code share on THAI flights between Bangkok and Phuket, Singapore, Frankfurt, Rome, London, Stockholm and Copenhagen. THAI will reciprocate by code sharing on Air New Zealand flights between Auckland and Wellington, Christchurch, Melbourne and Perth, between Wellington and Sydney and Melbourne, and between Christchurch and Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.

Flights between Koh Samui and Hong Kong are now available three times daily on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from Bangkok Airways. In late October, the airline will begin flying between Bangkok and Koh Samui, with a stopover in Trat, four times weekly. The airline will also increase its existing Bangkok and Trat route to three times daily in October.

In October, Thai Airways International will commence direct flights between Bangkok and Los Angeles three times a week. This service comes on the heels of the new Bangkok and New York route that was instated in May. The airline has also signed a code share agreement with Air Madagascar for flights between Bangkok and Antananarivo.

Thai Sky Airlines

Thailand’s newest mid-market airline, Thai Sky Airlines, commenced services in early 2005 with Bangkok-Hong Kong and Bangkok-Kuala Lumpur flights. In August, it began flying between Bangkok and Taipei three times a week.

Koh Samui expansion

In August, Koh Samui saw the opening of the 4-star Al’s Resort Koh Samui. It houses 42 rooms, including 17 beachfront villas with ocean views, a free-form swimming pool, a children’s pool, spa and meeting room, the Talay Boat Restaurant, and an all-day dining restaurant.

The Koh Jum Lodge, located on Koh Jum between Krabi and Koh Lanta, offers basic accommodations in 16 cottages surrounded by a coconut plantation and tropical gardens. The remote island, which sees very few tourists, is inhabited by 1,000 people from three small fishing villages. From the Krabi Airport, the lodge is a one-hour transfer by bus and by boat. The lodge can arrange snorkelling trips to nearby islands, as well as canoeing, fishing, biking and hiking tours.

The Sala Samui Resort & Spa, located on Choeng Mon Beach in Koh Samui, offers luxury 69 villas and suites, 53 of which have private swimming pools. Room categories include the sala and garden pool villas, deluxe balcony villas, 1- and 2-bedroom pool villa suites, 1-bedroom duplex villa suites, and a two-bedroom pool villa. All feature lush garden surroundings, open-air bathrooms, loungers and daybeds, and deluxe amenities. Facilities include 80 metres of private beachfront, two beachfront swimming pools, a library, a boardroom that accommodates up to 20 guests, private cooking courses, an Internet and business centre, Thai and western cuisine at the Sala Samui Restaurant, drinks at the beach bar, and the Mandara Spa.