The cabinet on Tuesday approved the Transport Ministry’s plan to increase the flights between Thailand and Russia in accordance with the memorandum of understanding signed between the two countries on July 23, 2014, Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisit said on Tuesday.
Under the plan, the flights between Bangkok and Moscow will be increased to 105 from 70 per week, flights between Russia-Phuket and Bangkok-St Petersburg from 28 to 56 per week.
The flight increase will hopefully encourage more Russian tourists to return to Thailand.
Thailand was the favourite destination for Russian tourists several years ago. But since the devaluation of the Russian ruble against the US dollar a few years back, Russian arrivals have substantially dropped and now replaced by Chinese tourists.
For the flights to Russia, four stopover points have been designated, including Chengdu, Changchun, Shenyang and Harbin.
In the meantime, Russia operates 32 flights to Bangkok within a week plus 13 flights to Phuket a week.
Minister Arkhom said Thai Airways International will resume operations between Bangkok and Moscow starting on December 15 with four flights a week.
