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