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Code-share will boost Samui traffic
Code-share will boost Samui trafficFirefly to code-share with Malaysia Airline is in the pipeline.
Firefly Airlines expects to code-share with Malaysia Airline by the end of this month.
Firefly Airline's GSA - Samui based, Amsiam Travel director, Santi Wongsawat said the code share would increase business and help the airline to boost bookings to Samui using Malaysia Airlines and the Kuala Lumpur gateway option.
"Once the technical side is done, travel agents will be able to see our flights in the GDS system. We can then market the link in Australia, because Australian travellers will save time and expense if they fly to Samui via KL rather than Bangkok."
"We are also considering the Middle East market, which is one of the strong inbound markets for Malaysia. We believe that it will open more business for Samui, especially during the time that the island needs to find alternate markets to counter recession," said Mr Santi.
Firefly Airline is a subsidiary of Malaysia Airline System Berhad, but it has taken 18 months to establish a code-share agreement between the two airlines.
The airline has four weekly flights from Kuala Lumpur to Samui; four weekly flights from Penang and four weekly flight from Penang to Phuket. The airline has a fleet of nine-ATR72s.
Mr Santi reports a good response from the short-haul weekender markets as well as incentive groups of 30 to 60 people out of Malaysia.
"We operate every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday on all three routes, so holiday makers can fly to Samui or Phuket on Friday and return on Sunday or Monday."
He said that since the airline was established in April 2007, it has aligned itself with the Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle (IMTGT) and has made inroads into Samui with partnership agreements with 20 hotels.