Phuket to welcome more flights for 2013/2014 high season

Phuket remains the popular winter holiday destination with 48 airlines operating 771 flights per week through the city’s airport during this winter schedule from 27 October, 2013 to 29 March, 2014, representing a 27.37 per cent increase for the 2012/2013 winter period.

Mr. Suraphon Svetasreni, Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), said “The increasing number of flights to Phuket reaffirms the popularity of the Thai southern island as the preferred destination for winter holidays especially for long-haul travellers from Scandinavia, the UK and Europe.”

According to Phuket International Airport, a total of 40 regular and eight charter airlines are operating an average of 110 flight-routes, totalling 220 flight movements, per day between Phuket and various cities worldwide.

Of the total 771 flights per week, there are 451 international flights, up from 301 flights during the 2012/2013 winter period. The number of domestic flights per week has also increased from 259 to 320 flights.

Airlines operating regular flights through Phuket International Airport during this winter 2013/2014 schedule include:

• Aeroflot, three flights per week from Moscow, using Airbus 333 or Boeing 777 aircraft with 302 seats.
• Air Berlin, a daily flight from Berlin, using Airbus 332 aircraft with 303 seats.
• Asiana Airlines, a daily flight from Incheon, using Boeing 763 aircraft with 250 seats.
• China Eastern Airlines, a daily flight from Chengdu (new route), using Airbus 320 with 156 seats.
• China Southern Airlines, a daily flights (up from three flights per week) from Guangzhou, using Boeing 738 with 163 seats.
• Condor, two flights per week from Frankfurt, using Boeing 76W with 270 seats.
• Emirates, a daily flight from Dubai, using Airbus 343 with 267 seats.
• Korean Air, seven flights per week from Incheon, using Airbus 333 with 276 seats.
• Qatar Airways, a daily flights from Doha, using Airbus 333 with 305 seats.

In addition, airlines operating charter flights through Phuket International Airport during this winter 2013/2014 schedule include:

• Business Air, 13 flights per week from Busan / Incheon / Chongqing, using Boeing 763 with 151 seats.
• Enter Air, a weekly flight from Warsaw, using Boeing 738 with 189 seats.
• Novair, two flights per week from Stockholm, using Airbus 332 with 299 seats.
• Thomas Cook Airlines, 10 flights per week from Stockholm / Copenhagen / Helsinki / Orebro / Oslo / Gothenburg, using Airbus 332 with 323 seats.
• Thomson Airways, 10 flights per week from Copenhagen / Gothenburg / Helsinki / Oslo / London, using Boeing 67W or Boeing 788 with 291 seats.
• Tui Fly, four flights per week from Stockholm / Copenhagen, using Boeing 76W with 291 seats and Airbus 343 with 269 seats.

The Governor added, “Phuket offers a remarkable variety of tourist attractions and activities, ranging from unique culture, Sino-Portuguese architecture, abundant natural beauty, and shopping, as well as a wide range of accommodation including many luxury pool villa resorts.”

Phuket currently has about 42,000 rooms in accommodation establishments, ranging from budget and mid-scale hotels to luxury resorts. More hotel projects are under construction.

To facilitate the expected increase in the number of visitor arrivals, Phuket International Airport is being expanded to handle 12.5 million passengers per year, up from six million now. The expansion is slated for completion in 2015.