Thai AirAsia eyes domestic traffic uptick with Phuket reopening

Thai AirAsia has expressed confidence in the Thai government’s plan to reopen Phuket in July and expects to up its domestic capacity by 30%. “We remain highly optimistic on the positive developments as a result of the government’s efforts to combat Covid-19 and its harsh effects in the travel and tourism sector,” Thai AirAsia’s CE Santisuk Klongchaiya says in a 23 June statement. “The launch of the ‘Phuket Sandbox Model’ signals more opportunities to stimulate the local economy, and AirAsia will definitely support the reopening of tourist activities.” The low-cost carrier plans to increase domestic flights by 30% in July and up flight frequencies across all routes “to sustain the increasing demand [for travel], especially to Phuket”. From Phuket, it will operate thrice-daily flights from Don Mueang International airport and four times weekly from Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi International airport.<br/>