This was published 1 year ago
Cheap flights to Bangkok as Thai AirAsia X launches Sydney, Melbourne routes
By Katherine Scott
Thai AirAsia X will launch flights from Bangkok to Sydney and Melbourne in December.
Low-cost carrier Thai AirAsia X will add two services between Australia and Thailand, with launch fares starting from $299.
Australians will be able to fly direct to Bangkok from Melbourne and Sydney as of December 1 and 2, respectively.
The Bangkok-Sydney route will fly four times weekly, departing on Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, while the Bangkok-Melbourne (Tullamarine) service will operate three times per week on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays.
Thai AirAsia X is currently running a launch promotion for the routes, with economy flights from $299 each way, and premium flatbeds – what the airline calls its business class seats – from $1199 each way.
The Thai AirAsia X services will use 377-seat Airbus A330 planes, divided into 12-seat business class cabins and economy cabins comprising 365 seats.
The new low-cost services will arrive in time for the peak Christmas travel period, bolstering Australian's connectivity to more than 30 destinations in Asia.
News of the direct Bangkok services comes as Thailand cements itself as one of the fastest growing overseas destinations for Australians since borders reopened.
The tropical nation emerged as the eighth-most visited overseas destination for June with 17,460 resident returns, according to Australian Bureau of Statistics data.
Tassapon Bijleveld, Thai AirAsia X's acting chief executive officer, said the Australian cities were popular with Thai tourists and students.
"Having recently resumed services to South Korea and Japan, we are thrilled that we are now expanding to Sydney and Melbourne as our next key growth markets," said Bijleveld.
"As Australia's largest cities, they both have much to offer in terms of strong economy, tourism and education, making them prime additions to Thai AirAsia X's growing network."
Jim Parashos, Melbourne Airport's chief of aviation, welcomed the new service and its potential to boost the state economy.
"This new route will also drive tourism into Victoria and support a growing Thai international student market. Prior to the pandemic, Thailand was one of the state's top 10 international student source markets and an important part of our economy," said Parashos.
Greg Botham, chief commercial officer Sydney Airport, said the addition of the low-cost Bangkok route will make travel to Thailand accessible for more Australians.
"This service will provide a great, low-cost option for Australians looking to secure travel over the busy end of year holidays to one of Asia's most exciting destinations," Botham said.
Thai AirAsia X will be the first international low-cost carrier to launch a direct Australia-Thailand route since Jetstar resumed services in January.
Jetstar relaunched its Phuket services from Melbourne and Sydney in mid-January, and a Melbourne-Bangkok service in mid-April, with Jetstar's CEO Garath Evans crediting Thailand as one of the most popular destinations in the carrier's international network.
Thai AirAsia X, a joint venture of Malaysia's AirAsia X and Thai AirAsia, hasn't made a significant bid for the Australian market since launching in 2013.
The airline's only Australian service to date, a short-lived Brisbane-Bangkok route, debuted in June 2019 but was axed the following April due to the pandemic.
In July, sister airline AirAsia X announced the resumption of flights from Melbourne, Sydney and Perth to Kuala Lumpur from November 1, 2022. The low-cost carrier will initially operate three services per week to each city, with a view to increase this to daily flights in 2023.
Following a further round of relaxed entry restrictions in June, Thailand bookings have surged, with Expedia naming it among its top 10 most popular international destinations for spring, based on accommodation demand.
As of July 1, Australian visitors no longer need to complete a 'Thailand Pass' or take out a $10,000 travel insurance policy. Those entering will still need to show proof of vaccination or produce a negative COVID-19 test result within 72 hours of travel.
Thai AirAsia X's launch promotion lands the same day Virgin Australia and Jetstar kick off major sales.
Virgin Australia has slashed fares for over a million economy seats, as part of a 'Million Sale' promotion, with domestic fares from $49 (Sydney-Byron Bay) and international fares from $469 (Gold Coast-Bali).
Meanwhile, Jetstar has discounted 300,000 fares across its network, part of the airline's 'Spring Sale', with domestic fares from $49 (Adelaide to Melbourne), and international fares from $139 (Darwin to Bali). Both sales end at 11.59pm on Sunday September 4, 2022, unless fares are sold prior.
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