Bangkok - THAI Airways International's (THAI) new non-stop Bangkok-New York service is expected to attract considerable interest from business travellers, not least because it will cut travelling time between the two points from 25 to 17 hours. THAI confirmed in February it would start the new service linking Bangkok with the US east coast on May 1 using a new Airbus 340-500 aircraft configured with 60 Royal Silk Class seats (THAI's new business class), 49 premium economy-class seats and 113 economy class-seats.
THAI president, Mr Kanok Abhiradee, said he had high hopes for the service. "This is our first destination along the east coast of the USA and we think it will prove very popular with business and leisure travellers from Asia and the US," he added.The service will operate daily, except on Mondays, and will complement the carrier's four-times weekly service to Los Angeles.
TG790 departs Bangkok at 00.40, arriving in New York at 06.35. The return flight, TG791, departs New York at 12.00 and arrives in Bangkok at 16.10 the following day.
THAI is touting the flight-time of 17 hours as a "record-breaker". The two other non-stop services from South-east Asia are operated by Singapore Airlines (SIA) to New York and Los Angeles, also using the A340-500. SIA is reported to be achieving cabin factors of about 75 per cent, much of it accounted for by business travellers. Analysts doubt if THAI will achieve the same high ratio of business to leisure because Bangkok is not quite in the same league as Singapore as a business destination. But they also think the provision of the New York service will stimulate senior business executives from both countries to travel the route.
Carlson Wagonlit Travel (Thailand) general manager, Mr Brian Croucher, said the addition of any non-stop flight into the US is extremely good news. "And New York is particularly welcome because it is a major gateway and an important business centre."
He also noted the aircraft would feature 170° reclining seats in the new Royal Silk Class, which THAI is about to roll out as its new business-class offering. "This is in line with their general upgrading and we like it. Our clients will definitely be looking at this, and the price is great." he told BTN Asia-Pacific.
Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA) president, Mr Suparerk Soorangura, believes the service could also benefit southern China. "It will be a boost to the region as a whole. Yunnan province is only a two-hour flight from Bangkok so I think we can anticipate New Yorkers using the service as a gateway to China."
