Flights galore on China routes

BANGKOK, 12 July 2012: Despite the dominance of charter flights from major cities in China, Thailand and the Asian giant share a comprehensive full-service airline network. Here are nonstop options between Bangkok and major Chinese cities using scheduled airlines.

Thai Airways International operates flights to six destinations in China: Beijing (twice daily), Shanghai (twice daily), Chengdu (five weekly), Xiamen (four weekly), Guangzhou (twice daily) and Kunming (five weekly).

Under its 52nd Anniversary online campaign, valid until 30 September, the airline sells Beijing and Shanghai at  fares of Bt16,100 for economy class and Bt32,640 for business class.

Economy and business class fares to Chengdu and Xiamen are quoted at Bt11,510 and Bt22,230 respectively. Guangzhou fares are Bt10,650 and Bt21,370 in economy and business classes and a Kunming fare is priced at Bt10,345 and Bt21,370 respectively.

Another Thai carrier operating scheduled flights to China is Thai AirAsia. The carrier now operates a single daily services to Chongqing with fares starting at Bt7,280; Shenzhen, Bt8,660 and Guangzhou Bt9,969.

From China, Air China out of its home base Beijing is currently operating daily flights to Bangkok and three flights weekly to Phuket.

It offers promotional economy fares until 31 December on the Bangkok-Beijing route at Bt13,590, when making booking 45 days in advance. The business class fares starts from Bt34,490.

Its fares from Phuket are Bt17,390 and Bt41,710, for economy and business classes respectively.

In its winter schedule, starting 28 October, Air China will lift frequency on the Bangkok-Beijing route from daily to twice daily.

Using B737-800 aircraft, the new flight will depart Beijing at 1345 and land in Bangkok at 1805. It will depart Bangkok at 1915 and land in Beijing at 0055.

The current daily flight uses a bigger B777-200, departing from Beijing at 1945 and returning from Bangkok at 0105.

China Eastern Airlines flies twice daily from the business capital of Shanghai, selling fares at Bt12,490 and Bt23,130. It also operates five weekly flight between Kunming and Bangkok selling fares from Bt12,435, economy class and Bt15,690 in business.

China Southern Airlines operates nonstop four daily  flights from its Guangzhou home base to Bangkok quoting fares from around Bt10,900 and Bt24,600 for its economy and business class respectively.

Other carriers serving China from Bangkok include Sri Lankan Airlines and Kenya Airways. They both serve Guangzhou with four weekly services as an extension of the flights to Bangkok.

Sri Lankan Airlines pitches its fares from Bt8,400, economy and Bt29,000 business.  Fares of Kenya Airways are Bt8,500 and Bt21,900.

Besides these nonstop services, there are also  one-stop services operated by Chinese carriers via their own hubs as well as other carriers in North Asia — Hong Kong, Korea, Taiwan and Japan.

All fares are subject to change due to currency fluctuations and availability.