Thai Airways to increase flights from Kolkata

Kolkata, Aug 09 (UNI) Thai Airways will operate ten new flights a week from Delhi and Mumbai in the coming year.

Speaking at a seminar on 'Enhancing Indo-Thai Business Prospects' organised by Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry here today, Thai Consul General Manop Mekprayoonthong said, ''We plan to increase our daily flights from Kolkata and Chennai. We are also looking forward to operating 10 new flights a week from Delhi and Mumbai.'' Thai Airways has planned to start new flights from Hyderabad and Buddha-Gaya as their next destinations at the end of October 2006, he said.

The company has also planned to make 11 tourist destinations in India, out which five to six had already been opened, he added.

Currently the total number of passengers from India to Thailand in 2006 was 400,000 in 2006.

The number of Indo-Thai flights have also increased over the years from eight in 2001 (from Delhi and Kolkata) to 30 flights per week in 2006. Currently Thai Airways operate daily flights from Mumbai, Bangalore and Delhi while five flights a week from Kolkata and four from Chennai.

BNCCI Presidet Nayantara Pal Choudhury said that Indo-Thai trade has also increased substantially over the years. It has crossed US 2 billion mark. Indian exports to Thailand increased from US $ 910.02 million in 2004-05 to US $ 1062.10 million in 2005-06, registering a growth of 17.88 per cent. While imports alsogrew at the rate of 38.8 per cent in 2005-06.

UNI JYN SJC RN1857