Flying to Bangkok now easier

Kolkata: Thai Airways has plans to expand its network in Kolkata by doubling the number of its daily flight service from one to two for Thailand from the second quarter of the current year to boost tourism.

It is all set to introduce the second flight service by roping in its wholly-owned subsidiary airliner: Thai Smile Airways with a passenger capacity of 168 from the city for Bangkok in day time since the existing daily service with a passenger capacity of 309 is available during night only.

On the flight services’ expansion Thai general manager (Kolkata and West Bengal) Kris Theerarak told this newspaper, “We are working on the plan. Hopefully it will be finalised and the date will be announced soon.”

Mr Theerarak was speaking on the sidelines of Thai Festival Week, organised by Royal Thai Consulate-General, Kolkata, which was inaugurated by Tollywood actor Dev and acting Thai Consul-General Venus Asawapoom on Friday evening.

Ms Asawapoom said that Kolkata became Thai Airways’s first destination in India 58 years ago. Once the second flight service through Thai Smile Airways becomes operational, Kolkata will be on the same page of another Indian metro: Mumbai which also has two Thai Airways flight services daily for Bangkok with second position in terms of revenue generation, Mr Theerarak added.

Mr Theerarak explained, “Kolkata often comes third in terms of revenue generation among the eight Indian metropolitan cities where Thai Airways operates its flight services. But sometimes Bengaluru replaces Kolkata for the third spot. Thai Airways operates three flights in between New Delhi and Bangkok daily at present as New Delhi tops list with highest revenue generation.”