New flight services Hanoi-Buon Me Thuot by Vietnam Airlines

Vietnam Airlines has recently announced that a direct flights from Hanoi to Buon Me Thuot will begin on March 10 2007 using the airbus 320s aircraft.

Flights will be operated every Tuesdays and Sundays until March 25 2007. From then on, there will be another flight added with a return ticket of VND 2.8 million (US$ 175.00) per person. 

Currently, passengers flying from Hanoi to Buon Me Thuot will have to travel via Danang or Ho Chi Minh City.

Source: VNA

Add comment February 27th, 2007

Two new bus services from Ho Chi Minh City to Siem Reap and Hanoi

Vietnam National Administration of Tourism recently announced that Saigon Passenger Transport Company will operate VIP bus service from Ho Chi Minh City to Cambodia’s Siem Reap via the Moc Bai border in Tay Ninh Province.

The new service started on February 17 2007 and should operate twice a week.

The fare is US$ 20.00 for one-way and US$ 36.00 for a return ticket for the 8-hour trip from Ho Chi Minh City to Siem Reap.

Passengers are provided with breakfast and lunch and a guide, who can speak Vietnamese, English and Khmer.

A new Hanoi-Ho Chi Minh City bus route also recently kicked off daily service.

The fleet of 50-airconditioned busses - decked out with 39 bunk beds, deluxe interiors, audio and video equipment, 3 TVs, a toilet and other amenities between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City - is operated by the Hoang Long Transport Company Limited.

The 30-hour journey covers approximately 1,000 kms. with buses leaving daily from Luong Vien Bus Station in Hanoi and the Mien Dong Bus Station in Ho Chi Minh City.

Buses depart from both cities every 2 hours starting at 0500 hrs. with the final departures at 2300 hrs. The fare is VND 650,000 (US$ 40.00) and includes meals and insurance.

Source: TTR Weekly

Add comment February 27th, 2007

Entrance doors to check-in rows at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport

Those of you who are departing from Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport should take note of these entrance doors. Just ask your drivers to drop you off in front of the right entrance will save you a lot of time and hassle!

The entrance doors to the check-in rows are clearly marked by airlines as follows:

Entrance 1
- Thai Airways International (TG) - international routes; first and business class
   passengers

Entrance 2
- Thai Airways International (TG) - domestic routes; business and economy passengers
- Nok Air (DD)
- Orient Thai (One-Two-Go) (OX)
- PB Air (9Q)
- Tiger Airways (TR)
- SGA (5E)
- Thai Air Asia (FD, domestic and international routes except KUL)
- Air Asia (AK, KUL route)

Entrance 3
- Bangkok Airways (PG) - domestic and international routes
- Siem Reap Airways (FT)
- Lufthansa (LH)
- Swiss Air (LX)
- Austrian (OS)
- Gulf Air (GF)
- Garuda Indonesia (GA)
- AeroSvit (VV)

Entrance 4
- Thai Airways International (TG) - international routes, economy, premium economy
   and Star Alliance Gold
- SAS (SK)
- All Nippon Airways (NH)
- United Airlines (UA)
- Asiana (OZ)
- JetStar (3K)
- Vietnam Airlines (VN)
- LTU (LT)
- Hainan (1R)

Entrance 5
- Korean Air (KE)
- Malaysia Airlines (MH)
- Singapore Airlines (SQ)
- Pakistan International (PK)
- Kenya Airways (KQ)
- Turkmenistan (T5)
- Transaero (UN)
- Myanmar Airways International (8M)
- PMT Air (U4)

Entrance 6
- Cathay Pacific Airlines (CX)
- Qantas (QF)
- British Airways (BA)
- Air France (AF)
- KLM (KL)
- Aeroflot (SU)
- Northwest (NW)
- Air India (AI)
- Mahan Air (W5)

Entrance 7
- Qatar Airways (QR)
- Ethihad Airways (EY)
- Kuwait Airways (KU)
- Egypt Air (MS)
- Laos Aviation (QV)
- Air Madagascar (MD)
- Thai Sky Airlines (9I)
- Xiamen Airlines (MF)
- Air Astana (4L)

Entrance 8
- Japan Airlines (JL)
- Eva Air (BR)
- Uni Air (B7)
- China Airlines (CI)
- Dragon Air (KA)
- Finnair (AY)
- Royal Jordanian (RJ)
- Air Macau (NX)
- Malev (MA)

Entrance 9
- Emirates (EK)
- Turkish Airlines (TK)
- Royal Brunei (BI)
- Sri Lankan (UL)
- Royal Nepal Airlines (RA)
- Ethiopian Airlines (ET)
- Philippines Airlines (PR)
- Siberia Airlines (S7)

Entrance 10
- China Eastern Airline (MU)
- China Southern Airline (CZ)
- Air China (CA)
- Indian Airlines (IC)
- Biman Bangladesh (BG)
- Druk Air (KB)
- Uzbekistan Airways (HY)
- El Al Isarael Airline (LY)

Add comment February 20th, 2007

Reopening of the Bangkok’s Don Muang Airport as of March 25 2007

The cabinet on Tuesday approved the reopening of Bangkok’s 92-year-old Don Muang Airport on March 25 to handle domestic flights while the capital’s new but problem-plagued Suvarnabhumi Airport will handle mainly international travel. 

Government spokesman Yongyuth Maiyalarp said the cabinet had decided to reopen Don Muang to handle only domestic flights and it would be up to the airlines themselves to decide which airport they will use.

So far, Thai Airways International (THAI) has agreed to operate its domestic routes from Don Muang as has its affiliate Nok Air and two other privately owned Thai airlines, One-Two-Go and PB Air, Mr Yongyuth said.

Airlines that choose to remain at Suvarnabhumi would presumably be allowed to operate both international and domestic flights.

Depending on which airlines will transfer back to operate at Don Muang, there could be some implications for us all and the services we provide. As soon as we have further news we will let you know. 

Add comment February 20th, 2007

Bangkok Airways will launch is direct flight Bangkok-Pakse as of Aril 10 2007

As of April 10 2007, Bangkok Airways will begin its direct services from Bangkok to Pakse, another exotic destination in Laos two days a week on Tuesday and Saturday.

Flight schedules are:

Flight number: PG# 947
Departs Bangkok at 1125 hrs.
Arrives Pakse at 1255 hrs.
Flying time: 1 hour 35 minutes

Flight number: PG# 948
Departs Pakse at 1605 hrs.
Arrives Bangkok at 1735 hrs.
Flying time: 1 hour 35 minutes

For more information, please visit airline’s website on:

http://www.bangkokair.com/

Add comment February 15th, 2007

Bangkok Airways is launching its direct flight Bangkok-Ho Chi Minh City-Bangkok as of March 02 2007

As of March 02 2007, Bangkok Airways will begin direct flights between Bangkok and Ho Chi Minh City three days a week on Tuesdays, Friday and Sunday.

Flight schedules are as follows:

Flight number: PG# 939
Departs Bangkok at 1630 hrs.
Arrives Ho Chi Minh City at 1755 hrs.
Flying time: 1 hour 25 minutes

Flight number: PG# 040
Departs Ho Chi Minh City at 1850 hrs.
Arrives Bangkok at 2015 hrs.
Flying time: 1 hour 25 minutes

For more information, please click on the airline’s website:

http://www.bangkokair.com/

Add comment February 15th, 2007

More flights from China Southern Airlines to Phuket, Siem Reap, Yangon and Vientiane and More!

China Southern Airlines, the world’s 10th largest airline – is pleased to announce a major international expansion during 2007.
Slated to open in 2007 are all-new air routes to eight Asian nations, including Cambodia, India, Japan, Laos, United Arab Emirates, as well as Nigeria and Angola, with cities including: Dubai, Luanda, New Delhi, Phuket, Sendai, Sapporo, Siem Reap, Vientiane and Yangon.
This new International expansion is a major step in China Southern’s construction in building Guangzhou as a major global business and logistic destination.
Mr. Si’s announcement comes on the heels of China Southern’s recent opening of new service from China to Lagos, Nigeria and Kathmandu, Nepal.
International routes slated for opening in 2007 include:

    Guangzhou-Dubai-Guangzhou

    Guangzhou-Luanda-Guangzhou

    Guangzhou-Sendai-Guangzhou

    Guangzhou-Sapporo-Guangzhou

    Guangzhou-Katmandu-Guangzhou

    Guangzhou-Delhi-Guangzhou

    Guangzhou-Siem Reap-Guangzhou

    Guangzhou-Phuket-Guangzhou

    Guangzhou-Yangon-Guangzhou

    Guangzhou-Vientiane-Guangzhou

By the close of February 2007, China Southern Airlines will operate 82 International and regional services. Guangzhou and Beijing will serve as its major airport hubs, with regional airports in Urumqi in China’s northeast and Shenyang in the northwest serving as an air network covering all of Asia, with convenient connections to Africa, Australia, Europe and the United States.

With world headquarters In Guangzhou, China Southern Airlines currently operates 22 Guangzhou-outbound International and regional routes, with direct services to the major cities in North America, Europe, Australia, South East Asian areas, Japan and South Korea.
The largest airline in The People’s Republic of China for the past 28 years, China Southern Airlines – www.cs-air.com/en – connects more than 80 cities around the globe. Major business and vacation destinations served in China include: Beijing, Chengdu, Guangzhou, Guilin, Hong Kong, Kunming, Shanghai, Shenzhen and Wuhan, and International service as well, including: Amsterdam, Bangkok, Fukuoka, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Islamabad, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, Los Angeles, Manila, Melbourne, Moscow, Osaka, Paris, Penang, Phnom Penh, Seoul, Singapore, Sydney and Tokyo.
For China Southern Airlines reservations and information, please check out its website on:

http://www.cs-air.com/en
 
Source: businesswire

Add comment February 15th, 2007

Air Bagan is flying to Siem Reap soon

Air Bagan will launch regional services by April 2007 using 2 of its 228-seats A310-200 for daily services on routes Yangon-Bangkok and Yangon-Singapore and for two-weekly services on the route Yangon-Mandalaay-Kunming. In its recent announcement, the airline stated it was also planning to fly daily servcies to Siem Reap, Cambodia. This will allow it to tap the popularity of the Angkor Wat, the world heritage site.

Air Bagan is due to take delivery of 158-seat A320 in September, while currently it has 8 aircrafts including 1 fokker-100, 2 ATR-42s, 3 of ATR-72s and 2 of A310-200.

Air Bagan was established in November 2004 as the 3rd deomstic carrier to compete with Air Mandalay and Yangon Airways. Currently they are operating to 17 destinations including main tourist destinations as well as to other commercially important destinations such as Yangon, Mandalay, Nyaung U, Heho, Kyaing-Tong, Tachileik, Myitkyina, Putao, Dawei, Myeik, Kawthaung, Thandwe, Sittwe , Pathein , NayPyiTaw, Kalaymyo & Lashio.

Source: TTR Weekly

Add comment February 15th, 2007

Pacific Airlines to offer US$ 1.00 fare starting as of February 15 2007

VietNamNet Bridge – Pacific Airlines will become a low-cost carrier on February 15 2007 when it begins selling 50,000 tickets at low fares of as little as VND15,000 (under US$ 1.00), said Pacific Airlines director Luong Hoai Nam Round-trip air fares on Hanoi-Ho Chi Minh City routes would be set at 11 price levels including nine non-refundable levels and two refundable ceiling level fares. 

According to Nam, passengers on one-dollar flights would be responsible for additional fees and taxes, bringing total fares to about VND45,000 (US$ 2.80). No meal service would be offered on these budget flights, Nam added.Nguyen Kim Thanh, a manager of Pacific Airlines e-ticketing system, said the airline maintained both traditional ticketing and e-ticketing systems. According to Nam, Pacific Airlines is operating 20 aircrafts and plans to increase its number of flight from 10 to 12 per day. 

Pacific Airlines began following a model to become a low-cost carrier three years ago, after the success of foreign budget carrier in Vietnam. The airline projects a drop of 30-40% in costs over the next 3-5 years with the aim of increasing its current annual number of passengers of 750,000 to 5mil passengers in 2011, Nam said. 

Statistics have shown that only about half a million Vietnamese fly frequently, out of a population of 85mil people, while in Indonesia the figure was 30mil out of 230mil.

For further information, we suggest you check out the airline’s website on:

http://www.pacificairlines.com.vn/  

Source: VNA