"SilkAir, the regional wing of Singapore Airlines, is planning to introduce scheduled flights between Singapore and Koh Samui in a move that would break the monopoly on the route by Bangkok Airways.
The airline has sounded out the possibility of launching a daily service on the route with Bangkok Airways, which also operates the privately owned Samui Airport on behalf of the Samui Airport Property Fund, according to industry sources.
But SilkAir was advised to seek the permission from the Department of Civil Aviation and related authorities, which restrict the numbers and timing of commercial flights through the resort island in the name of environment protection.
A maximum of 36 flights a day are currently allowed to operate through the Samui airport between 6 am and 10 pm. All but two of the total permitted daily flights are granted to Bangkok Airways. The rights to operate the other two flights were given to Thai Airways International, which began flights between Samui and Bangkok for the first time in the middle of this month.
The restriction will be the main hurdle SilkAir has to overcome if it wants to start the Singapore-Samui route."
http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/b...s.php?id=126156
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Silk Air seeks landing rights in Koh Samui
Started by Sexpat, Feb 26 2008 09:38 AM
1 reply to this topic
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Posted 27 February 2008 - 12:11 PM
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A maximum of 36 flights a day are currently allowed to operate through the Samui airport between 6 am and 10 pm. All but two of the total permitted daily flights are granted to Bangkok Airways.
I will be very surprised if the Thais airport authorities allow a non-Thai airlines to fly into Samui. The rates are high now because of this monopoly and that's the way the Thais want to keep them - only for THAIS !
