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SRT to compete with low cost airline
The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) is promising ‘buy
one, get one free’ promotions to counter the fact that the low-cost
Bangkok-Chiang Mai airfare will be a full 200 baht lower than the cost of a
train ticket. SRT Governor Chitsanti Dhanasobhon said that the SRT was
urgently searching for approaches to help ease the situation by the
beginning of December.
The SRT’s move followed a deal between Shin Corporation
Public Company Limited and Malaysia-based AirAsia to jointly launch the
low-cost airline early next year.
Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit conceded the
low-cost airline could affect the SRT’s revenue, particularly from its
VIP-class customers who could turn to travel via the low-cost airline’s
flights, saying the adjustment of the SRT’s strategies was needed to
enhance its competitiveness. (TNA)
Air India Board approves fleet acquisition plan
The Air-India Board has decided to recommend to the
Ministry of Civil Aviation acquisition of 10 long-range and 18 short-range
aircraft for Air-India.
The aircraft recommended for the long-range and
short-range categories are Airbus 340-300 and Boeing 737-800 respectively.
Both these aircraft will be powered by CFM Engines.
A340-300s recommended for induction will be in three
class configuration. Each aircraft will have 272 seats - 10 First Class, 27
Executive Class and 235 Economy Class. These aircraft will be deployed on
the India-Europe/United States and India-Saudi Arabia routes.
Boeing 737-800s, in two class configuration, will have 146 seats - Eight
Executive Class and 138 Economy Class. These aircraft will be deployed on
the India-Gulf, India-Africa and India-South East Asia sectors.
“ICE” offers Emirates customers choice entertainment and convenience
Emirates new $8 million ICE (information, communication
and entertainment) system starting in December will feature 100 movies and
50 TV channels on demand, 350-plus audio channels and 40 in-flight games.
The award-winning airline is launching the industry’s
most sophisticated on-demand video and audio system, making it the first to
show BBC World news updates in-flight, and first to let travelers send and
receive email and SMS from any seat for just $1 a time.
On non-stop trips to and from Australia - and next year
North America - they will test their knowledge in trivia tournaments, save
the world from space invaders, sink a putt at mini-golf, challenge a
colleague to a game of Hangman, or try their skill at 10-pin bowling.
Every passenger can also telephone anyone anywhere for US
$5 a minute, using an individual handset to access the world’s most
widely-used in-flight telephone system.
Emirates is also pioneering Room Service, allowing them
to phone over their requirements to the cabin crew at any time.
Offer made to buy ‘long-necked’ Padaung tribe families
Provincial governor thwarts business plan
A businessman offered 10 million baht to purchase members
of the Padaung tribe – famous for their ‘long-necked women’ – based
in this northern province of Mae Hong Son, in hopes of tapping into vast
tourism revenue, according to the head of the tribe, 40 year-old Thulae.
Thulae said that a group of businesspeople from Phuket
had contacted him with a proposition to buy 3-5 Padaung families based in
Mae Hong Son and with an aim to take them to Phuket to be shown to tourists
there, and a sum of 5-10 baht billion was offered.
After discussions, members of the tribe had spoken
favorably of the offer, noting that their present income in Mae Hong Son was
low, as tour companies were reluctant to pay foreign tourists to see them.
At present, around 20 Padaung families live in Mae Hong
Son, earning their incomes from the sale of souvenirs and from tourists who
pay to look at their traditional costume, which includes the wearing of
several brass rings round the necks of women, producing the famous ‘long
necks’.
Thulae said that some of the Padaung families expressed
interest and said they would travel to Phuket, where they had been promised
200 baht from every foreign tourist who paid to look at them, with the tour
companies paying them on a monthly basis.
But Mae Hong Son provincial governor, Suphot Laowansiri,
said that the Padaung had to remain in Mae Hong Son, as they were war
refugees who would be returned to Myanmar once the situation there had
improved. The province has set aside a special area for the Padaung tribe,
with soldiers and volunteers ensuring that they do not escape from the
province. (TNA)
Warm welcome for Dutch journalists
Nichaya
Chaivisuth, Director of Public Relations of Amari Watergate Hotel recently
welcomed Beertje Van Beer, journalist for Squeeze Magazine, on her arrival
to Bangkok to interview ‘Nong Toom’ Parinya Jaroenphon about her life
story and the film “Beautiful Boxer”. Pictured from right are Beertje
Van Beers; Venus Veldhorn, magazine’s photographer; Nichaya Chaivisuth;
‘Nong Toom’ Parinya Jaroenphon, and Kangsadan Charoenpanich, PR Officer
of GMM Pictures.
Phuket to receive first international AirAsia flight
AirAsia will commence its first regional
flight from Kuala Lumpur on December 8 when it flies to Phuket in Thailand.
It will operate a daily service, with fares starting from RM89.99 (US$24)
one way. The outgoing flight will depart at 10.40 and arrive in Phuket at
10.45. The return flight will depart at 11.35 and return to Kuala Lumpur at
13.50. Seats are open for booking. (TTG Asia)
Finnair gives fewer points through the Internet
When you book your award flight through
the Internet, you obtain it with fewer points charged. Your benefit is 1,000
- 3,000 points, depending on the award’s normal points charge. The benefit
affects only scheduled Finnair award flights (Finnair aircraft and the AY
code on the flight ticket) and Golden Air flights within Finland.
This advantage applies only to new bookings made through
the Internet. Bookings cannot be changed.
Required points for Finnair round-trip award flights:
Flights within Finland: 19,000; Northern Europe, tourist class: 29,000;
business class: 43,000.
Rest of Europe, tourist class: 39,000; business class:
58,000; Long-haul flights/Atlantic, tourist class: 118,000; business class:
167,000; Long-haul flights/Far East, tourist class: 148,000; business class:
217,000.
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