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Dragonair is thinking of flying directly to U-Tapao. No more 2 hour taxi rides.

 

Dragonair envisions big role in Thailand

19 Chinese cities are target market

 

Bangkok Post 10/16/03

author: Nondhanada Intarakomalyasut

 

Dragonair is looking to cash in on the boom in China's outbound travel

market, fuelled by the growing middle-class, and expand its services in

Thailand.

The Hong Kong-based carrier, which will begin flying to Bangkok from Nov 1,

is considering adding U-Tapao near Pattaya and Chiang Mai to its routes.

Its twice daily Hong Kong-Bangkok flights aim to bring tourists from 19

cities in mainland China to Thailand via Hong Kong.

Although the airline has never flown to the Thai capital, it has been

providing thrice-weekly flights from Hong Kong to Phuket for more than 16

years.

This year, the number of Chinese travelling to Thailand is estimated at

800,000 with no slowdown in sight.

According to chief executive Stanley Hui, Southeast Asian countries,

particularly Thailand, have become increasingly popular among Chinese

travellers.

He said Dragonair would work to build up a network with local travel agents

to bring more Thais to Hong Kong and the mainland.

The airline is also targetting business travellers from the Pearl River

Delta which includes Macau, Guangzhou and Shenzhen - one of the fastest

growing regions in the country.

Initially, special packages will be offered in Thailand for a round-trip

Bangkok-Hong Kong ticket with two nights accommodation starting at 8,000

baht.

"Obviously, we have to position ourselves as a competitive airline with

airfares below first-tier airlines like Cathay Pacific and Thai Airways

International," said Mr Hui.

Within the first year of operation, Dragonair aims to capture a 9-10% share

of the combined three-million-seat capacity on the Hong Kong-Bangkok route.

Until next summer, Dragonair will use the Airbus 320 with 158 seats for the

Hong Kong-Bangkok route. It then expects to raise capacity to 290 seats on

an A330.

And in the future, Mr Hui said Dragonair plans to offer daily flights on the

Hong Kong-Bangkok-Phuket route.