THAI SMILE LAUNCHED DIRECT FLIGHT AHMEDABAD-BANGKOK
Gujaratis were all smiles on Friday as Thai Airways International (TG), the Thai premium airliner, launched its first flight under its subsidiary premium budget airline, Thai Smile, directly connecting Ahmedabad with Bangkok.
The launch party, which was organized by Thai Airways at The Courtyard by Marriott in downtown Ahmedabad, was attended by members of the media who eagerly awaited the big news.
With the new Thai Smile operations, Gujaratis wishing to visit Thailand, an all time Indians' top travel destination, can travel to Bangkok for a shopping spree or for a stroll on beaches of pattaya or hua hin in just 4 hours, saving nearly 5 hours of flight connection time in Mumbai or Delhi.
“This inaugural flight of Thai Smile will bring Gujarat much closer to South East Asia”, said Korakot Chatasingha, TG General Manager India, stressing a whole gamut of opportunities which come with this new route.
When the first flight takes off on 31 March 2013, Thai Smile will operate two flights weekly on Wednesday and Sunday. It will fly with brand new Airbus 320-200 providing 16 business class and 150 economy class seats. Inaugural fare starts from as low as Rs. 18,000 round trip.
Candle lighting to mark the auspicious beginning of Thai Smile in India
Presiding over the candle lighting ceremony were Pisan Manawapat, Thai Ambassador to India, and Vipul Mittal, Principal Secretary of Tourism and Civil Aviation of Gujarat.
In his speech, Principle Secretary Mittal, congratulated and commended TG for making the dream of thousands of Gujaratis come true. “Thai Smile will now make smiles radiate in both nations”, he said.
He also encouraged both peoples to take advantage of this new window of opportunities, especially for the Thais, to explore Gujarat –birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi, home to unseen Buddhist trails, and base of world class diamond industry.
Vipul Mittal (left) and Pisan Manawapat (right) at the Thai Smile launch event
Ambassador Pisan expressed his deep gratitude to Narendra Modi, Chief Minister of Gujarat, who saw it through with his support for TG to operate from Ahmedabad.
It was during the Thai top diplomat’s first meeting with CM Modi last May that the CM pledged to give his full support to Thai Airways in embarking upon this new route. “The first question the Honourable Chief Minister asked me was when Thai would start flying direct to Ahmedabad”. And six months later this question was answered.
”My thanks also to TG for its commitment and to R K Singh and Vikramkumar S Thakkar of Gujarat Airport for their continuous support”. Because of their hard work, the Thai Ambassador was able to confirm to the audience at the closing ceremony of Vibrant Gujarat 2013 Thai Smile’s first entry into the Indian market.
Thai Ambassador announcing Thai Smile flight to Ahmedabad at Vibrant Gujarat 2013
On tourism promotion, Mr. Pisan said he wished to correct an imbalance between the number of Thais traveling to India (less than 1 lac a year) and Indian tourists visiting Thailand, which exceeded 10 lacs last year, making Thailand Indians’ top travel destination, and Indians sixth among all foreign tourists visiting Thailand last year, after Chinese, Malaysians, Japanese, Koreans, and Russians.
He expressed his readiness to work with the Government of Gujarat to promote tourism both ways, especially Thais coming to India. “There are so many things Thai tourists can do in Gujarat. The white desert of Kutch captured the whole essence of the slogan ‘Incredible India’ to say the least."
White Desert of Kutch, one of many incredible sights in Gujarat
He urged Gujarat to send a delegation of cultural performers as well as diamond industry representatives to promote Gujarat in Thailand so more people will start to fly and TG could increase from two flights per week to maybe daily flights. This decision to increase number of flights will depend on how Thai Smile fares on this new route in the next six months.
Following the special dignitary remarks, Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), Mumbai Office, also awed the audience with a video presentation ‘Once in a life time’, which captured what Thailand had to offer to foreign visitors. (To view this video click here)
Thai and India cultures brought together by Thai Smile
TG and Gujarat Tourism also arranged cultural performances bringing Thai and Indian cultures closer together. Both shows were invigorating and brought the hall-packed crowd to a standing ovation.
Thai Airways has been in operation in India since the Airline’s inception in 1960. Kolkata was one of its first destinations. Now that Thai Smile operates direct flights from Ahmedabad to Bangkok, Gujaratis can enjoy the possibilities of connecting to over 70 international destinations Thai Airways operates to world wide.
For more information, please visit www.thaismileair.com
Praphan Samphaiworakit
Reports from Ahmedabad, Gujarat
15 March 2013
