Emirates, the world's top buyer of the Airbus A380 superjumbo, is expanding its service into Asia with the aircraft's first commercial flight to Bangkok on Monday, an airport official said.
An A380 jet, the world's largest passenger airliner, was to set down at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi International Airport with nearly 500 passengers from Dubai.
The longest luggage conveyer built will be used, along with four boarding gates, 13 check-in counters and an extra-large departure area to handle the flight, said Serirat Prasutanont, the airport's director.
Serirat said that beginning Monday, the Dubai-based carrier will operate daily A380 flights between Dubai and the Thai capital.
Emirates has ordered 58 of the aircraft, the most booked by any airline.
The airliner made its commercial debut in Asia in October 2007 with a Singapore Airlines flight between Singapore and Sydney.
An Airbus A380 made a technical trial flight from Toulouse, France, to Bangkok in December 2006.
Suvarnabhumi, which opened in September 2006, has five gates capable of receiving A380s.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Superjumbo makes 1st commercial flight to Bangkok
Special tour packages offered to transfer passengers at Suvarnabhumi Airport
BANGKOK, June 1 (TNA) – Thailand’s tourism related agencies on Monday launched 15 special tour packages in the Thai capital and its environs to attract transfer passengers making stopovers of 12 hours or less at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport, in an attempt to boost the country’s tourism industry.
The campaign which targets transit passenger has been jointly launched by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), the Airports of Thailand (AoT), the Immigration Bureau, Thai Airways International (THAI), and the Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA).
TAT chairman Veerasak Kowsurat said that the campaign is aimed at boosting the country’s economy and increasing local incomes.
"Transit passengers who must wait at Suvarnabhumi Airport between six and twelve hours can take a brief tour of Bangkok and its surrounding provinces. We hope that the quick first impression will encourage them to come back here for a longer stay," Mr. Veerasak said.
The TAT chairman said that the activities include Bangkok city tours focusing on cultural and historical sites such as a boat ride and a Grand Palace tour, as well as the shopping activities in downtown Bangkok.
Tourists can also opt to visit nearby Samutprakarn province to see a crocodile farm, the Ancient City (Muang Boran), and the Erawan Museum, or spend their time on golf courses or Thai traditional massages and spas, according to Mr. Veerasak.
Mr. Veerasak said that 500-baht airport fees will be exempted for transfer passengers who join selected tours, upon checking in again for their onward flights, adding that all immigration formalities will be facilitated.
The TAT chairman added that the campaign will last for two years, expecting to bring in nearly Bt200 million income.
