Minister supports THAI plans to set up a budget airline
Thai Airways International's (THAI) plans to set up a low-cost carrier and subsidiary of its own with Singapore-based Tiger Airways has the backing of the new Transport Minister, Sukampol Suwannathat. Sukampol says he would like to study the details of the plans first, but when they are based on solid business data he does not foresee any problems. Thai Wings The one hundred percent daughter, provisionally named Thai Wings, goes on …
Improvement of Thai railway network is urgently needed
Transport costs in Thailand make up 10 percent of gross domestic product, a much higher percentage than in other countries. That is because most transport is by road. Thailand's more than 100-year-old railway network is only 4.346 kilometers long and passes through 47 of its 77 provinces. Ninety percent is single track with – even worse – a level crossing every 2 kilometers on average, which explains why rail travelers have to deal with so often…
Pickup Truck: there's even more to it! (video)
Thailand is the land of Pick-up Trucks. Wherever you look you will find them. They are also used for things for which they are not intended, such as passenger transport.
Phuket Airport is growing out of its jacket
Tourism in Phuket is doing well, so much so that Phuket Airport can hardly handle the streams of tourists. This year, 8 million passengers are expected, 22 percent above the airport's capacity. Tour operators are already worried about delays. To tackle the congestion, Airports of Thailand has improved the terminal buildings and renovated the baggage hall. In the first half of this year, the number of passenger arrivals increased by 20 …
Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) climbs to 10th place
Suvarnabhumi (codenamed BKK) rose to the top ten busiest airports in the world last year. The airport is ranked 10th on a list drawn up by Airports Council International together with world leaders such as London (1), Paris (2), Hong Kong (3) and Dubai (4). Last year, 31,41 million international passengers passed through Suvarnabhumi, 9 percent more than the year before. When domestic passengers are also included, the airport falls out of the list, as does rival Singapore. Phuket…
THAI fleet renewal urgently needed
Thai Airways International's fleet is in urgent need of renewal if the airline is to maintain its leading position in the region and face fierce competition from Middle Eastern carriers. New aircraft are also needed to regain lost market share in Europe, says THAI president Piyasvasti Amranand. A new fleet reduces maintenance and fuel costs and allows THAI to adapt to changing passenger demand. …
Airport Rail Link will not close
The Airport Rail Link, the subway between Bangkok and Suvarnabhumi International Airport, will not close. The line, called a "debacle" by the Bangkok Post, is rumored to be struggling with liquidity problems and a lack of spare parts. But the board of the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) denies that the line should be shut down for several months. According to SRT board chairman Supoj Saplom, passenger numbers are increasing. 'For this reason, is is impossible for us to cease our services', says …
In 2015: by high-speed train to Pattaya
In previous posts about trains, ideas for a high-speed train in Thailand have already been mentioned. First a connection from Bangkok to Nong Khai was mentioned and a while later the first HSL train from Bangkok to Hat Yai would run. Personally, I thought it wiser to first think about the line from Bangkok to Pattaya and see what happens. In a private business meeting with Pattaya's deputy mayor, Ronnakit…
The first 'collision' in Thailand
It had to happen after six years: a collision. Well, there was no real accident. In fact, the whole thing didn't amount to much. I was turning into soi 55 Hua Hin when a huge billboard blew off the sidewalk and hit my car. Some deep scratches were the result, damage that would certainly run into the many hundreds of euros in the Netherlands. The owner of the board and…
AirAsia buys 320 AXNUMX neos from Airbus
The Asian budget airline AirAsia has ordered 320 A320 neos from Airbus, the largest order ever for Airbus. The new engines of the A15neo, LEAP-X engines from CFM International, are said to be as much as 320 percent more fuel efficient than those of the traditional A320. The low-cost carrier from Malaysia, owned by tycoon Tony Fernandes, signed a definitive contract for the purchase of two hundred AXNUMXneos. According to Fernandes, AirAsia secures its future with this 'historic deal' and can now …
There are at least two types of mobile disabled people: those who are always in a wheelchair due to illness or accident and those who stumble, misstep, or otherwise injure their feet, ankles, legs or hips at home or on vacation. The first category may be able to take a wheelchair with them on holiday to Thailand, the second group has a much more difficult time, because they are not used to such injuries. Bert Haanstra has recently thrown himself into this market in Pattaya. …
The hard life of a taxi driver in Bangkok
We often complain about taxi drivers in Bangkok, but do we have any idea how difficult they are? There are more than 90.000 of them on the road today and there are more every day. Maximilian Wechsler, the Bangkok Post reporter who previously denounced the free sale of child pornography on Sukhumvit, this time explored the shadowy world of taxi drivers. Their path is usually not a bed of roses, it turns out. …
Two Dutchmen at the top of world aviation
Ir. Paul Riemens, chairman of the board of Air Traffic Control the Netherlands (LVNL) was elected chairman of the governing body of the global organization of air traffic control services CANSO (Civil Air Navigation Services Organization) in Bangkok on Tuesday. CANSO represents the global interests of air traffic control organizations. The air traffic control organizations affiliated with CANSO handle more than 4,5 million flights worldwide every month, representing 85% of civil air traffic. Paul Riemens is the first Dutchman to lead CANSO. “It is a huge challenge and a privilege to…
Thai Airways buys 23 Airbuses and 14 Boeings
The Thai airline Thai Airways announced Monday that it wants to purchase 23 Airbuses and 14 Boeings. The devices are purchased or leased. It involves an amount of almost 3,9 billion dollars (2,7 billion euros). Thai Airways wants to buy six Boeings 777-300ER, four Airbuses A350-900 and five Airbuses A320-200. This for an amount of 1,6 billion, according to a press release. The group also wants to lease 22 other aircraft, including eight Boeings …
Airport Rail Link Bangkok: fast and cheap!
The last day before my departure from Bangkok I had the opportunity to try out the Airport Rail Link. In this posting my experiences with this fast connection from Suvarnabhumi Airport to the center of Bangkok. The Airport Rail Link consists of two lines on which express trains run: Express Line (red): from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Makkasan Station (non-stop). The journey time is 15 minutes. City Line (blue): from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Phaya Thai Station (stops at …
Armless bandit
Smuggled cigarettes are sold on the beach by a boy with no hands. During military service, he lost them in a premature grenade explosion. He still has elbows, but he does everything with them. There is no social insurance in Thailand, so there are only two options left, begging or trying to earn a living. Everyone admires his perseverance, so his business is going well. So good that he even bought a car…
Airline Singapore Airlines has announced its intention to set up a low-cost airline. This is how it can be read today in the Telegraaf. This new airline will not only focus on short-haul flights, as is usual with low-cost carriers. The airline will also offer cheap airline tickets for long-haul flights. Singapore Airlines announced this last Wednesday. The new airline should be operational within a year. Which routes the airline will fly on or under…