January 19, 2008
BANGKOK - National carrier Thai Airways International will begin flying to the resort isle of Samui next month, ending an 18-year monopoly by Bangkok Airways, an aviation official said Friday.
"Thai Airways will begin to operate twice daily flights to Samui starting February 15," Department of Civil Aviation chief Chaisak Angkasuwan told AFP.
The airline has not set a fare for the new route yet, but faces hefty fees for using Samui Airport, Chaisak said.
Bangkok Airways built and manages the only airport on the island in the Gulf of Thailand, where it maintains a monopoly on the 32 flights in and out of Samui every day.
The airport handles about 1.6 million passengers a year, and is one of Bangkok Airways' most lucrative routes.
