AirAsia targets Phuket as new Thailand hub
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According to a Bangkok Post report, Phuket is beingtargeted along with Medan, Bandungand Penang as key new operation bases fromwhich to expand. The Phuket base, scheduled to be up and running in the secondhalf of this year, will serve as a springboard for the carrier to embark on newdirect flights from the island to cities in Chinaand Hong Kong.
“Having a hub in Phuket means you can operate more newroutes using Phuket as a base, and bring in more traffic from overseas,”Kathleen Tan, AirAsia’s Executive Vice President – Commercial, was reportedsaying.
The plan requires its Thai AirAsia subsidiary to hireground staff, maintenance engineers and initially to keep at least one aircrafton standby, Ms Tan added.
Despite Thailand’s political problems, and Phuket airportitself being closed by protests for a weekend in September last year,international passenger traffic through Phuket airport in 2008 still rose 10%to 2.4 million, according to figures from Airports of Thailand Plc.
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