Bangkok, 2014-9-2 — /Travel PR News/ — Thai AirAsia X, Thailand’s first low-fare, long haul carrier, celebrates their inaugural flights from Bangkok to Tokyo Narita (NRT) and Osaka (KIX) today.
Flight XJ600 took off from Bangkok (DMK) to Tokyo (NRT), with a load factor of 80 percent, while flight XJ610 departed from Bangkok (DMK) to Osaka (KIX) at 16.25hrs, Thailand time (GMT+7). Both routes feature AirAsia’s Fly-Thru service to five additional destinations in Thailand via Don Mueang Airport, providing a variety of travel options to passengers from both Thailand and Japan.
Mr. Nadda Buranasiri, CEO of Thai AirAsia X said, “Today is another important day for our airline with inaugural flights for two routes to Japan, namely; Bangkok (DMK) to Tokyo (NRT) and Bangkok (DMK) to Osaka (KIX).
“Despite low season, our flights have been well received and we are confident that the demand for low-fare travel between the two countries will continue to increase. We have already achieved an advance booking rate of 50 percent for the first quarter of 2015 and have decided to increase flight frequencies during the Songkran holiday,” he said.
Starting from 26 March 2015, Thai AirAsia X will increase its daily flights between Bangkok Don Mueang (DMK) and Tokyo Narita (NRT) to double daily flights. On the same day, direct flights from Bangkok to Osaka will also increase from five days per week to daily flights. The new additional flights are already available for booking at www.airasia.com.
Mr. Nadda said, “Apart from Bangkok, travellers from Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Phuket, Krabi, Hat Yai as well as regional travellers from Myanmar, Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore can benefit from our flights to Japan with the Fly-Thru service at Don Mueang Airport.
“Passengers need only check-in and load their luggage once at their initial airport to collect their baggage at their final destination in Japan. We are very glad to be able to offer this value-added service to an array of travelers and are looking to expand more passengers who wish to travel at reasonable prices,” he added.
With its flight additions, Thai AirAsia X becomes the airline with the second highest seat capacity between Bangkok and Narita Airport (NRT) at over 14 flights a week, which is equivalent to a total seat capacity of 10,556 seats per week. Similarly, once it increases flights to Kansai (KIX) to seven per week, it will also be the second highest seat capacity for flights between Bangkok and Osaka at 5,278 seats per week.
Thai AirAsia X is aiming to play a major role in stimulating travel from Japan to Thailand by offering connections throughout the Kingdom to its regional neighbours at equally low fares.
It is estimated that in 2014, as many as 600,000 Thai travellers will visit Japan, an increase of 30 percent compared to the previous year. The figure is a clear indicator of Japan’s popularity as a destination for Thai travellers with its variety of travel styles which allow for repeat visits.
There is also an equal amount of Free Independent Travellers (F.I.T) and group travellers from Thailand who travel to Japan. While the figure of Japanese passengers has dropped since the beginning of the year, an uptick is expected in the latter half and the airline is confident that the figure will match last year’s total of 1.5 million by year’s end.
Thai AirAsia X operates with an Airbus A330-300 aircraft with 377 seats (12 Business Class and 365 economy class seats). Those who prefer a flatbed seat option can enjoy the airline’s Business Class which includes reclining Premium Flatbed seats, complimentary 40 kilos of baggage, complimentary meal and drinks, and many other privileges.
Direct flights between Bangkok Don Mueang (DMK) -Tokyo Narita (NRT) and Bangkok Don Mueang (DMK)-Osaka (KIX) are Thai AirAsia X’s second and third routes following the airline’s inaugural flight from Bangkok (DMK)-Seoul (ICN) on 17 June 2014.
For more information, please visit www.airasia.comor www.facebook.com/AirAsiaThailand.
Media contact:
Wow Pongpanich, Email: krittiyawadeep@airasia.com
Moke Promma, Email: mokep@airasia.com
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Tourism Authority of Thailand: Thai AirAsia X starts flights from Bangkok to Tokyo Narita and Osaka