Bangkok--Nov 18--Thai Airways
Thai Airways International Public Company Limited operated its official inaugural flight from Bangkok to Moscow with a ceremony held prior to departure at Bangkok International Airport. Also present at the ceremony were H.E. Mr. Yevgeny Afanasiev, Russian Ambassador to Thailand and Mr. Wanchai Sarathulthat, THAI’s Chairman, THAI’s Board Members and Management. The route is in response to Thai Government free trade policy serving economic, investment and tourism opportunities for Thailand. It also helps strengthen relationship between the two countries.
THAI introduced its second international direct flight for the year 2005 on the route Bangkok — Moscow (Domodedovo) v.v., operating three times per week and utilizing MD-11 aircraft, effective as of 1 November 2005 onwards.
Mr. Vasing Kittikul, THAI’s Executive Vice President for Commercial, said that “During the beginning of the Winter Program 2005/ 2006, THAI will introduce direct flights routed Bangkok to Moscow, Russia. THAI will operate its flights to Domodedovo International Airport in Moscow, which is the company’s first destination in Russia. Furthermore, the launch of Bangkok — Moscow v.v. route emphasizes the relationship between the two countries as THAI has been working closely with Russian authorities as well as its air carriers to increase trade and tourism links opening up the opportunity for Thai visitors to enjoy the beauty and magnificence of St. Petersburg and Moscow and for Russian travelers to experience the splendor of Thailand and beyond.”
In addition, on the route to and from Moscow, THAI will serve both leisure, business, and MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, and Exhibitions) travelers, the company anticipates that this route will primarily attract a substantial amount of leisure travelers. In the year 2004, there were 115,064 leisure and business travelers visiting Thailand increasing 40% compared to the same period last year.
The Moscow flight will also appeal to traders transporting goods and products to and from Russia. The new generation of middle-class Russians have increasingly higher spending power and travel on long-haul flights for holidays spent overseas with family and friends. This group of Russian passengers is a target market that THAI will serve on this route, making the new operation to and from Moscow a forthcoming success in serving air travel needs of Russian passengers.”
Mr. Kittikul further stated that THAI will operate three flights per week routed Bangkok — Moscow (Domodedovo) v.v., utilizing MD-11 aircraft, as follows:
Flight schedule of Bangkok — Moscow v.v. (Domodedovo Airport)
(Three weekly flights every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday)
Flight Route Departure Arrival
TG974 Bangkok — Moscow 10.35 hrs. 16.25 hrs.
TG975 Moscow — Bangkok 18.20 hrs. 07.05 hrs. (arrival the following day)
THAI also provides special promotion fares for the route Bangkok — Moscow v.v. as follows:
- Royal First: 89,000 baht
- Royal Silk: 76,000 baht
- Economy: 31,000 baht
**This promotion fare is effective now until 31 January 2006. For more information and for flight reservations, passengers may contact THAI’s Reservation Office at Tel. 0-2628-2000 and 0-2280-0060, 24 hours a day.
To celebrate the route, during 1 — 30 November 2005, THAI serves special Russian meals on board flight TG974 routed Bangkok — Moscow for customers to experience a taste of Russia on board THAI’s flight with the feel of Royal Orchid Service. The Russian menu to be served is as follows:
Royal First Class
King Prawn Medallion, garden vegetables with balsamic mayonnaise dressing Lamb noisette with fresh peppercorn and red wine sauce Cappuccino cake
Royal Silk Class
Grilled imported sea scallop with balsamic dressing
Braised lamb in red wine and shallot sauce
Cappuccino cake
Economy Class
Mixed green salad
Stir-fried with dry tom yam
Cappuccino cake
In addition, THAI will announce the celebration of the launch in Moscow by organizing a cocktail reception on 18 November 2005 at Lenin Museum, Moscow, The Russian Federation.
Moscow celebrated its 850th anniversary of establishment in 1998 and was first founded the capital of Russia during the 16th century. During the 18th century, the Tsarist Court moved to St. Petersburg while Moscow remained the commercial, religious, and intellectual center, whereas Moscow resumed its position as capital after the Revolution in 1918. Moscow is currently Russia’s largest city and the main center for the Russian government and politics, commerce and finance, as well as education and culture. The Russian city is also the most important tourist destination in Russia, boasting grand churches and palaces from the Tsarist era, museums, reminders of the former Communist period, and unique shopping opportunities. Tourist attractions that are highly popular amongst leisure travelers in Russia include: the Red Square, Kremlin, tomb of Josef Stalin, Bolshoi Opera and Ballet, Sputnik, travel on the Trans-Siberia Express, city tours of Moscow, St. Petersburg, Novgorod, and Smolensk, as well as well-known Russian vodka and caviar.
About Star Alliance
Star Alliance was established in 1997 as the first truly global airline alliance to offer customers global reach and a smooth travel experience. Star Alliance has been voted Best Airline Alliance by Skytrax in 2003 and 2005. The members are Air Canada, Air New Zealand, ANA, Asiana Airlines, Austrian, bmi, LOT Polish Airliens, Lufthansa, Scandinavian Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Spanair, TAP Portugal, THAI, United, US Airways and VARIG Brazilian Airlines, South African Airways and SWISS will be integrated during the first half 2006. Overall, the member carriers offer more than 15,000 daily flights to 790 destinations in 138 countries. End.