etravelblackboard.com Australia's newest full service carrier, Strategic, will offer two weekly full service flights (on Tuesdays and Fridays) from Melbourne to Phuket starting February 22. Also on offer will be twice weekly (on Thursdays and Sundays) Brisbane to Phuket flights, beginning operation on February 24. The flights will be operated by an Airbus A330 aircraft offeringbusiness and economy.


A daily wrap of Thailand news, with a Phuket perspective, plus relevant reports from national and international media.

A NEW airline is about to take to the route between Phuket and Melbourne. Privately-owned carrier Strategic Airlines is converting its A330 Airbus to begin flights from Melbourne to Phuket, replacing the service operated by V Australia, says heraldsun.com.au
Strategic, previously a charter operator that carried troops and equipment for the military, will announce the plan today, offering a one-way launch fare of $A299 or $598 return. Strategic would become the only Australian carrier offering a direct Melbourne-Phuket service, to start on February 22, offering two full-service flights a week to include food, beverages and in-flight entertainment.

breakingtravelnews.com AirAsia X, the long-haul low fare affiliate of AirAsia, has announced Paris will become its second European destination following its inaugural London flight last year. The four-times weekly direct flight between Paris-Orly International Airport and Kuala Lumpur International Airport's Low Cost Carrier Terminal will commence on February 14.

xinhuanet.com The government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region will take measures to guard against bird flu. The city activated the Serious Response Level in public hospitals to tie in with the Preparedness Plan for Influenza Pandemic, following the reporting of the first human bird flu case since February 2003.

nydailynews.com According to CNN, a 59-year-old woman has been hospitalised and is in serious condition after a trip to China. Her illness was diagnosed as influenza A (H5), a variant of the bird flu. Officials are not certain how she contracted the virus. Her husband, 60, also was ill but has since recovered.

scmp.com Patients who turn up at Hong Kong's public hospitals with a high fever will have to be tested for bird flu, health chiefs ordered.

telegraph.co.uk A suspected bomb, complete with detonator and stopwatch, was discovered during a routine security check on luggage destined for a Germany-bound aeroplane in Namibia.

cnn.com Deputy Russian Consul General Andrei Yushmanov told state media that Viktor Bout told him that he was subjected to "professional psychological pressure" during his extradition flight, Russia's official news agency ITAR-TASS reported.

afp Thousands of Thailand's red shirts are due to gather in Bangkok on Friday to mark the six-month anniversary of a deadly army crackdown on their rally against the government. Police estimated that 10,000 people will take to the streets.

usatoday.com The death toll in the ongoing eruption of Indonesia's Mount Merapi has now reached 275, officials say. Indonesia's National Disaster Management Agency said many of the recent victims died of severe burns.

guardian.co.uk Aung San Suu Kyi: "I think that our situation is much more difficult than South Africa's. South Africa had already made some movement towards democracy when Mandela was released. Here in Burma, we are nowhere near that. We haven't even begun."

smh.com.au Shrapnel from the engine explosion on Qantas QF32 severed a fuel pipe and narrowly missed the wing's fuel tank, according to official preliminary reports. Chief executive Alan Joyce also confirmed that as many as 40 Rolls-Royce Trent 900 engines fitted to A380 superjumbos worldwide might have to be replaced.

stockmarkettoday.in Indonesian authorities say 122 of the Haj pilgrims from the country have died in Mecca during the pilgrimage rites. A statement issued by the Religious Affairs Ministry said most of the deaths were caused by health problems like circulatory disorders and respiratory problems.

afp The Philippines says it pulled its latest online tourism campaign after critics panned the rebrand and warned that unwary surfers could easily end up at a porn site instead.

sify.com A workshop is being organised in Terengganu, Malaysia, with the purpose of rejuvenating the sex lives of elderly couples. Some 300 senior citizens are expected to take part.



2010 Andaman and Phuket International Soccer 7s: On November 20 games will be played at Cherntalay ground (opposite the Municipality) from 8.30am. November 21 games from 9.30am, finals from 3pm. This year's tournament will support Women's Will Power Phuket Charity Group.

November 19 AustCham at the new Westin Hotel at Koh Sireh from 3pm. E: harry@ladypie.com Tel: 081 2731740
November 20-21 Korean Film Festival, Patong
November 20-21 2010 Andaman and Phuket International Soccer 7s
November 21 Loy Kratong Festival: Phuket's Tin Mine Mumeum to open.
November 26-28 Phuket Honda Racing Fest at Saphan Hin, Phuket City
November 28 Laguna Phuket triathlon
December 4-11 Phuket King's Cup Regatta
December 5 Laguna Ironman title
December 3-5 North Phuket Culinary Arts Festival, Mai Khao resorts
December 15-20 Patong Carnival
December 16-18 2010 Asia Superyacht Rendezvous
December 17 US Consular outreach service on Phuket
December 30-January 9 Phuket Red Cross fair, Saphan Hin park, Phuket City
2011
January 6-9 PIMEX boat show, Royal Phuket Marina
January 22 QSI International fun run day at Bang Wad Dam, Kathu
January 23 The Great Phuket Rubber Duck Race Day, Laguna Phuket
February 9-13 The Bay Regatta - Phuket, Phang Nga, Krabi