Mixed reaction to Phuket air routes

In an bid to tap into the increasing demand for Thailand's post-tsunami south, Hong Kong Express will offer two flights a week with 76 seats from Hong Kong to Phuket, and China Rich Airways twice-weekly 129-seat flights to Krabi. Destination management companies (DMCs) have reacted enthusiastically to the news. "This is great news," said Destination Asia (Thailand) managing director, Pornthip Samerton. "Hong Kong corporate and incentive groups love to come to Phuket and the direct flight is what they have been waiting for. This will allow direct access to Phuket from Hong Kong once more. "Every time an airline re-commences flights into Phuket it will send a message that Phuket and Southern Thailand is ready for business." However, Asian Trails deputy managing director, Roger Haumueller, said the DMC preferred Thai Airways, Dragonair or Bangkok Airways operating the Hong Kong-Phuket route as incentive clients usually came on regular flights. This was an opinion echoed by Sheraton Grande Laguna Phuket general manager Jan Kirstein. He said: "The flight schedules are not suitable for CEI delegates due to timing and frequency. "In 2004 the Hong Kong market represented 20 per cent of our total business, with 12 per cent of that coming from CEI," said Kirstein. "Without the major carriers supporting Phuket, we cannot foresee the return of such numbers. These smaller airlines cannot provide the frequency or schedules we need for either leisure or CEI customers."