TAT welcomes Air Asia’s new daily direct Manila-Bangkok flight

Mr. Kajorndet Apichartrakul, Director of TAT Singapore Office,
and Capt. Dexter Comendador, CEO of Air Asia Philippines 

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is delighted to welcome Air Asia’s new daily direct flight between Manila in the Philippines and Bangkok, with an evening departure in both directions and the route being operated by Airbus A320 aircraft.

The inaugural flight was launched on Sunday, 22 April and a celebratory event was held at the Terminal 3 of Ninoy Aquino International Airport to mark the occasion. Present at the event were Mr. Kajorndet Apichartrakul, Director of the TAT Singapore Office, and Capt. Dexter Comendador, CEO of Air Asia Philippines as well as bloggers and contest winners of the 48 Hours Chasing Wonders in Bangkok Challenge.

In celebration of this new route, TAT hosted a pre-boarding reception of Thai canapes and tea to all passengers aboard the flight and also presented everyone with free shopping gift cards. Passengers were also treated to a Thai cultural performance by the cabin crew.

The new Air Asia flight schedule sees Flight Z2 287 depart Manila at 18.35 Hrs. on a Monday, Friday and Sunday with arrival at Bangkok’s Don Mueang International Airport at 20.50. Hrs. The return flight Z2 288 leaves Don Mueang International Airport at 21.20 Hrs. the same evening and touches down in Manila at 01.50. Hrs. the next day.

Flight Z2 287 departs Manila 10 minutes earlier on a Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday, at 18.25. Hrs. with arrival at Bangkok’s Don Mueang International Airport likewise 10 minutes earlier, at 20.40. Hrs. The return flight Z2 288 leaves Don Mueang International Airport five minutes earlier at 21.15. Hrs the same evening and touches down in Manila five minutes earlier at 01.45. Hrs. the next day.

Mr. Yuthasak Supasorn, TAT Governor, said: “These direct flights come at a great time for Thailand and serve to add yet another important air linkage, as we are forecasting growing numbers of tourists from the Philippines. In 2017 the kingdom welcomed 380,000 arrivals from our ASEAN neighbour and in 2018 we expect to see a 15% growth on this.”

The new evening service to the Thai capital provides Filipino visitors more flexibility in their travel plans to ‘Amazing Thailand’, which is a destination that is growing in popularity from this particular source market. The ‘Open to the New Shades’ communication concept, which encourages visitors to experience Thailand from new and existing perspectives, holds a lot of appeal to Filipinos.

Source: www.tatnews.org/