ID :
174516
Mon, 04/11/2011 - 10:16
Auther :

ASEAN-India FTA bolsters aviation industry

BANGKOK, April 11 (TNA) - Gains from the free trade agreement (FTA) between India and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have brought about greater capital inflows, increases in tourism, and growth in the aviation sector in South East Asia.

Captain Puttipong Prasarttong-Osoth, President of Thailand-based Bangkok Airways, noted the positive trend across these 3 sectors had occurred since the year 2010 when the trade pact was signed. Essentially, the pact paved the way for more connectivity between India and the region, particularly for Thailand.

To strengthen ties, Puttipong said the airline has responded with new routes between Bangkok and Mumbai, which saw the average number of seats filled per flight or the Cabin Factor soaring above the 60 per cent mark, exceeding first-hand predictions of some 40-50 per cent, while the number Indian visitors to Thailand continuing to increase.

Puttipong added the company also plans to fly new routes this year to two of India’s promising cities, namely Kolkata and Chennai, in addition to its six weekly flights between Bangkok and Mumbai.

Bangkok Airways currently has domestic flights running to top Thai destinations, including Chiang Mai, Krabi, Phuket and Pattaya, as well as some 20 other attractions, such as the Maldives, Hong Kong, Singapore, Luang Prabang and Phnom Penh. (TNA)

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