Thai Airways Stopping Koh Samui Flights

News in The Nation has Thai Airways International set to cease flights between Bangkok and the resort island of Koh Samui.

Service will end in early September has cited it has a codeshare agreement with Bangkok Airways to easily transfer connecting passengers.

THAI has traditionally flown the route with an older Boeing 737, which the airline is slowly reducing similar aircraft from its fleet.

From a hotel perspective, the high airfares and limited access has somewhat constrained development in Koh Samui and in effect this has somehow played into the island’s persona as a luxury and upscale destination, as well as keeping hotel rates at a reasonably high level.

Unlike Phuket, which has played a mass tourism model and seen a considerable effect on room  rates, though RevPAR has risen due to demand.

Two very separate business models at the end of the day.

Three concerns for Koh Samui will be the omission of the national flag carrier, a lack of choice for tourists on airlines and less business class seats for its high-end visitors.