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Thai AirAsia ready to become first low-cost carrier to penetrate Burmese skies

BOONSONG KOSITCHOTETHANA

Thai AirAsia is breaking into Burmese skies by securing the rights to begin daily scheduled flights from Bangkok to Rangoon on Aug 16.

The local affiliate of Malaysia's AirAsia will become the first low-cost carrier (LCC) to operate to and from Burma, after the successful but painstaking lobbying of the Burmese military authorities, according to industry sources.

Thai AirAsia will be the third commercial airline from Thailand to operate on the Bangkok-Rangoon route, competing with Thai Airways International and Bangkok Airways.

Another local airline, Phuket Air had earlier scrapped scheduled flights to Rangoon in favour of non-scheduled flights arranged with package tours.

AirAsia has also been keen to introduce no-frills flights from its Kuala Lumpur hub in Malaysia to Rangoon but efforts to secure the rights from the junta have not been successful.

Sources said the budget airline would focus mainly on carrying tourists by offering attractively priced packages, while it also expected to attract some business travellers.

While most of its passengers will be Thai tourists, Thai AirAsia expects to carry onward passengers from AirAsia's regional network onto the Rangoon-bound flights.

But sources say that the difficulties many travellers have obtaining entry visas could set a challenge for Thai AirAsia to fill its 148-seat Boeing 737-300 jetliner.

Burma does not allow anyone, including citizens of Asean countries, to enter the country without a visa.

As well, the timing of the launch is not auspicious as it is the low tourist season, marked by heavy rain.

However, Thai AirAsia management want to establish the route as soon as possible to build a market presence.

The introduction of Rangoon service constitutes a part of Thai AirAsia's expansion to all neighbouring markets including Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, and southern China.

It currently operates flights from Bangkok to nine domestic cities and eight overseas destinations.

It has not announced the ticket prices for the Bangkok-Rangoon route but sources said they would be consistent with AirAsia's low-fare structure.

Quelle: Bangkok Post, 15.7.06

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hier steht etwas dazu im newsletter von cosmopolit unter airline news...,it komentar.
gruß


http://www.cosmopolitreisen.com/db/download/Newsletter/AUG_2006.pdf

Zitat:


..., die - besonders bei frühzeitigem Check-in - gern auch mal großzügiger gehandhabt werden. Bin bei Air Asia auch mit 19 kg schon durchgekommen ohne Aufpreis.

Aber auch mit Aufpreis dürfte Air Asia die günstigste Verbindung von Yangon nach Bangkok und zurück sein.

Viele Grüße,
Heiko