More flights from Middle East scheduled for Summer

  

 "The Middle East in general and GCC countries in particular, are very important sources of visitor arrivals for us, and we are very grateful to all the airlines, tour operators and others in the Middle East travel and tourism industry for their support,” said Tourism Authority of Thailand Governor Suraphon Svetasreni said.
 In 2011, arrivals from the Middle East were up 5.95 percent to 603,227. The top source markets were the UAE (108,509), Kuwait (55,991), and Egypt (16,662).
 Both nationals and expatriates in these countries have high purchasing power, a long average length of stay and enjoy the monsoon season in Thailand. Aside from good quality of products and excellent service standards, they come to Thailand also for shopping, entertainment and medical treatment.
 According to the Tourism Authority of Thailand Etihad Airways, based in the UAE capital of Abu Dhabi, is to boost its daily services to Bangkok from two to three a week as of April 15. The German airline airberlin, which is now majority owned by Etihad will start flights from Abu Dhabi to Phuket as of March 26. RAK Airways, based in the UAE state of Ras Al Khaimah, will inaugurate four weekly flights effective June 1.
 Etihad has codeshare agreements with Bangkok Airways and Vietnam Airlines, which will also allow better access by Etihad’s clients to secondary points in Thailand and Vietnam. Joining the tourism agency's "Amazing Thailand Programme", Etihad offers passengers a range of special deals and promotions including packages for vacations in Bangkok, Phuket, Chiang Mai and Samui.
 While in Bangkok early March, Etihad President and CEO James Hogan noted that the increased capacity will help boost travel to Thailand from not only the UAE, but also the GCC countries and  other regional points, including Iran.
 As part of the strategic partnership with Etihad Airways, from March 25, airberlin will fly daily from Berlin and Dusseldorf to Phuket via Abu Dhabi, the first daily nonstop flight from the Middle East to Phuket. Since January,

airberlin customers have been able to take daily flights from Abu Dhabi to Bangkok with codeshare partner Etihad

Airways.
 The new route will open a daily yearround service to the popular Thai island destination. All of airberlin’s flights will be operated by an Airbus A330200 aircraft in a twoclass configuration.
 Etihad Airways and airberlin will now offer a combined 42 weekly flights between Abu Dhabi and Germany from a total of four German hubs. The Abu DhabiPhuket flights will be a huge boost for leisure travellers across the Middle East and Europe, and highlights Abu Dhabi’s strategic location as a major gateway to Asia. Etihad Airways and the airberlin group carry a combined total of more than 40 million passengers a year, operate 233 aircraft and employ 18,000 people.
 The low-cost airline, based in Ras Al Khaimah state in UAE, will launch four direct weekly flights to Bangkok, effective June 1. Bangkok will be the 12th city on its route net and its first in Southeast Asia.
 As of March 2012, there are 140 direct scheduled flights per week between Thailand and eleven countries in the Middle East being operated by 13 airlines: Emirates, Qatar Airways, Gulf Air, Etihad Airways, Kuwait Airways, Oman Air, Iran Air, Royal Jordanian Airlines, Egypt Air, Mahan Air, Turkish Airlines, Bangkok Airways and Thai Airways International.