Bangkok--13 Mar--Thai Airways
Thai Airways International will be targeting the strong German market, which brought more than 500,000 visitors to Thailand in 2008, at this year’s ITB 2009 major travel mart in Berlin, Germany.
THAI, the national carrier of Thailand, is actively participating in ITB Berlin to boost tourism and to reassure the traveling public that Thailand is a safe destination, providing value for money. International tourism professionals, members of the press, and visitors to ITB Berlin will be provided with information on the latest tourism-related products and services, to confidently promote Thailand as a leading destination of choice.
At ITB 2009, THAI will present a new eye-catching booth design combining traditional Thai style elements and materials with modern looks and features. THAI’s booth will offer a unique, innovative feature to all ITB visitors. At two computerized photo stands, people can be automatically photographed, then may choose backgrounds from various Thailand or Thai Airways International touch screens with the portrait automatically combined. Through an integrated printer, a colorful postcard is then processed within seconds showing the visitor in front of the selected background. It makes a perfect souvenir of ITB 2009 and Thai Airways International.
Mr. Pandit Chanapai, THAI’s Executive Vice President for Commercial, said that since the beginning of 2009, the company developed many strategies to promote sales through its offices worldwide, resulting in increased cabin factor since January this year.
One of the most attractive offers from THAI is the “Thailand Plus and More” promotion. Passengers traveling with THAI on Royal First and Silk Class or purchase a Royal Orchid Holidays (ROH) package on economy class tickets will receive one FREE night’s accommodation at 100 selected top hotels throughout 7 cities in Thailand, on top of other valuable offers from ROH. Moreover, intercontinental travelers will receive one FREE domestic roundtrip ticket. “Thailand Plus & More” offer is valid from 1 March — 31 October 2009.
In addition, THAI has launched “Thailand Double Happiness” special fare, offering travel for two or more people to Thailand at a starting price of USD130 each in economy class. When customers chose to fly to another destination in Thailand, they may select from 11 destinations in Thailand: Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Phuket, Hat Yai, Krabi, Ubon Ratchathani, Surat Thani, Samui, Udon Thani, Khon Kaen, and Phitsanulok. “Thailand Double Happiness” offer is valid today until 31st March 2009.
For the German market, THAI will resume daily flights between Bangkok and Munich, Germany, from 29 March to 24 October 2009, bringing the total weekly number of flights between Thailand and Germany to 21.
THAI already flies double daily flights to Frankfurt, Germany, offering Germans one of the best connecting hubs to the Middle East and Asia-Pacific via Suvarnabhumi Airport, Bangkok.
Regarding its flight operations, THAI announced that all of its domestic flights will operate from Suvarnabhumi International Airport from 29 March 2009 onwards. THAI will move its services, at a total of 23 domestic flights from Don Mueang Airport to Suvarnabhumi International Airport. By shifting all flights to Suvarnabhumi International Airport, to achieve the strategic objective of promoting the airport as a major THAI and Star Alliance hub, which will play a major role in promoting economic growth for Thailand. The move will enable THAI to develop network operations, improve handling efficiency and reduce operating costs. It will also increase convenience for passengers and cargo shippers, not only for THAI flights but also for those of other Star Alliance member airlines operating to and from Bangkok.
THAI is a founding member of the 22 members of Star Alliance, the world’s largest airline alliance. Therefore, operating international and domestic flights from a single airport will improve airport connections to other Star Alliance carriers serving Bangkok.
Connecting times between domestic and international flights will be one to two hours less than the previous minimum connecting time required for passengers transiting through Don Mueang to Suvarnabhumi.
To handle the increased number of passengers, THAI will provide more check-in counters for domestic passengers, counter B for premium/business class passengers and counter C for economy class passengers. THAI will also extend its lounge areas at concourse A by 300 square meters.
For more information, please check THAI’s website www.thaiairways.com.
Press Release issued by M.L. Ajcharaporn Na Songkhla
Director of Corporate Communications