PHUKET: Paradise to paradise flights between Phuket and Bali are to be suspended temporarily from October 1 because of a damaged aircraft engine, a spokesperson for Thai AirAsia said today.
''The service will resume as soon as possible,'' she said. ''It's purely a problem of being able to keep enough aircraft servicing all our flights. 'We are still taking bookings.''
With occupied seats on the Phuket-Bali flights averaged 60 percent, concerns remain about whether the flights will continue as a Monday, Wednesday Friday and Sunday Phuket-Bali service.
Pressures on capacity appear to be growing as Thai AirAsia moves to Don Muang airport in Bangkok from October 1 and on the same day opens a new service to the terracotta warriors city of Xi'an in China.
The latest AirAsia connection to China is the fifth Bangkok-China connection for the budget airline.
More Chinese are turning to travel and consider Thailand to be a suitable and relatively close destination.
Whether the Phuket-Bali service resumes at the same frequency should become evident by early next month. For some, the chance to take in two paradises on one holiday trip may have to wait.
AirAsia frequently experiments with connecting links around South East Asia and rates Phuket as its second hub in Thailand.
A direct service between Phuket and Ho Chi Minh City was tried a couple of years ago but abandoned for lack of passengers.
''The service will resume as soon as possible,'' she said. ''It's purely a problem of being able to keep enough aircraft servicing all our flights. 'We are still taking bookings.''
With occupied seats on the Phuket-Bali flights averaged 60 percent, concerns remain about whether the flights will continue as a Monday, Wednesday Friday and Sunday Phuket-Bali service.
Pressures on capacity appear to be growing as Thai AirAsia moves to Don Muang airport in Bangkok from October 1 and on the same day opens a new service to the terracotta warriors city of Xi'an in China.
The latest AirAsia connection to China is the fifth Bangkok-China connection for the budget airline.
More Chinese are turning to travel and consider Thailand to be a suitable and relatively close destination.
Whether the Phuket-Bali service resumes at the same frequency should become evident by early next month. For some, the chance to take in two paradises on one holiday trip may have to wait.
AirAsia frequently experiments with connecting links around South East Asia and rates Phuket as its second hub in Thailand.
A direct service between Phuket and Ho Chi Minh City was tried a couple of years ago but abandoned for lack of passengers.
Airasia is not taking any bookings currently for flights on the Phuket-Bali route. a simple attempt to book a flight on their website on any day from the 1st October 2012 to September 2013 will confirm this.
Posted by Anonymous on September 25, 2012 00:32