LOW-COST carrier Nok Air returns to the Phuket-Bangkok route from February with fares beginning at 1490 baht.

Flights will be daily from 10.10am ex Phuket, with second flights on Mondays, Thursdays Fridays and Sundays in the evening leaving Phuket at 8.40pm.

Flights back from Don Meuang will depart at 8.20am daily and on Mondays, Thursdays Fridays and Sundays at 6.50pm.

Nok Air passengers can also book their own favorite seats by using the ''Pre-seat assignment'' service without charge.

The first 15 kilograms of loaded baggage also comes free and there are complimentary snacks on board.

Boeing 737-400s aircraft with a capacity up to 150 passengers (12 Business Class and 138 Economy Class) will be used on the route.

Phuketwan was the first media organisation to reveal on July 25 2008 that the Nok Air service was about to cease.

A Nok Air spokeswoman blamed the cuts on oil prices and the general economic downturn. Nok Air had been flying the route since February 10, 2006.

With One-Two-Go suspended, the disappearance of the Nok Air flights left Air Asia, Bangkok Airways and Thai Airways operating on the Bangkok-Phuket route.

Nok Air's other destinations are Chiang Mai, Udon Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Hat Yai and Trang.