Thai AirAsia to fly Bangkok-China

Thai AirAsia to fly Bangkok-China

BANGKOK: No-frills Thai AirAsia will launch its first flight to China on April 25, starting with cheap fares of about 6,000 baht (US$150), news reports said on Saturday.

Thai AirAsia, the Thai affiliate of AirAsia -- Southeast Asia's first no-frills airlines -- will be the first low-cost carrier to pioneer the Xiamen, China, route from Bangkok, Air Asia chief executive Tony Fernandes said at a press conference in Xiamen.

Thai Airways International (THAI), the national carrier, currently serves the Bangkok-Xiamen route twice a week.

"This is a huge expansion for the company. We see potential in the east-of-China market, and Xiamen's people want to visit Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore after they see Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macau," said Fernandes.

After Xiamen, Thai AirAsia plans to open new routes between Bangkok and Kunming, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Nanning and Shantou in China later this year, said the AirAsia CEO.

Thai AirAsia is partly owned by Shin Corp, the family-run business empire of Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.-- DPA