I must have missed the announcement last year that a new airline will open this month. This is not the joint venture between THAI and Tiger. It's seemingly a new independent budget carrier, but offering a few more extras. According to the incomplete website: "CTA think all passengers are royal people. Hot meal, High quality coffee, liquor service."

 

It presently has one Airbus A320 which will start flying between BKK, Muan (near S. Korea's Kwangju) and Seoul's Incheon airport on January 30. The website says it will add 2 Boeing 747s in April and new routes - Dubai, Mumbai, Cochin, Clark (Manila), Timpu (Bhutan), Phuket and Colombo. Hopefully these 747s are not the ones presently belonging to Orient Thai that we see seemingly rotting at Suvarnabhumi and Udon Thani!

 

http://www.crystalthaiair.com/html/where_we_fly_en.html

yes, also read about it in the relevant news I receive. Dont think it will be of any use to the average reader here, to me it seems clearly aimed at visiting koreans in tourgroups, and I suspect the only flights made will be when they pay enough seats to make it worthwhile, with perhaps a few odd seats being sold by whatever other channel they manage to find. In fact Orient Thai (now trading by that name-the former 1-2-crash/go abolished) also aimed for Korea-flights, but I think this has fallen through.

I wonder if it is more for Koreans visiting here or Thais visiting Korea? Every Thai I speak to wants to visit Korea.

 

I have vowed never to fly Orient Thai whose B747 fleet has an average age of 24.7 years. Yet, I was once waiting for a friend at BKK and saw 3 gorgeous air stewards coming through Immigration. They work for Orient Thai! I still haven't weakened, though!

I wonder if it is more for Koreans visiting here or Thais visiting Korea? Every Thai I speak to wants to visit Korea.

Could be both, but I think the nr of Koreans visiting Thaild is about 10x as high as the nr of Thai visiting Korea. perhaps astonishing for those now knowing very much about it: Korea is mainly featured in Thaild as a SNOW and WINTERdestination!

I also always thought that to enter/visit Bhutan one must buy very epxensive all-in daily packages and also has to fly at least in or out by their national DRUK-air (for a long time maintanied by TG=THAI). But maybe this is more relaxed for Asians as for white rich people.

I also always thought that to enter/visit Bhutan one must buy very epxensive all-in daily packages and also has to fly at least in or out by their national DRUK-air

I flew to Bhutan by Druk 3 years ago (very good airline). The zig-zag final approach in to Paro airport is one of the most difficult anywhere, so I am very surprised a charter airline will be allowed in. I hope their pilots are extremely well trained!! (Photo taken just after take-off)

 

I had to pay the package price. But I did read some months ago that the government wants more tourists and was considering reducing the daily fees. On the other hand, you have to remember that the fees cover all accommodation, all meals, all transportation, your full-time guide fees, entrance to the dzongs and museums, etc. So it is slightly better value than some claim.

Paro is indeed a tricky airfield. According to Travel and Leisure magazine, in an article published in October 2009 there were only 8 (eight) pilots in the world qualified to do commercial flights to there.

 

Earlier, in 2003, Boeing published a document detailing the test flights undertaken by a 737-700 into Paro as part of a marketing exercise to Druk Boeing

Wonder if there was any problem with the B737's ability to handle the height and trickiness of the landing? Druk opted in the end for the Airbus A319.

Wonder if there was any problem with the B737's ability to handle the height and trickiness of the landing?

 

None that I know of. Read the link above for a full report on the things like the one engine out demo at Paro.

 

(Sorry to wander off topic)