Nokair to fly between Surat and Bangkok for just Bt555

From Oct. 25, low-cost airline Nokair will start flying between Bangkok and Suratthani. For the first three months, the fare is only Bt555 one-way or Bt1,000 roundtrip. Sihaphan Choomsai Na Ayutthaya, the airline's senior vice-president for public relations, said the new air route, aimed at increasing tourist traffic to Samui and Koh Phangan, will have two roundtrip flights daily. The flight from Bangkok will come from the Don Muang airport.

The route will be serviced by a Boeing 737-400 aircraft which can sit a maximum of 168 passengers.

After three months, the fare will be increased to Bt1,000 one way, about Bt300-400 lower than that of Air Asia, which also services the route.

Suratthani Gov. Pracha Taerat said the new air route would provide tourists bound for Samui or Koh Phangan a chance to make a side trip to some of the province's many other attractions.

Besides, he added, instead of a long ten-hour bus ride from Bangkok, budget travelers can get to Samui or Phangan in just a few hours.