Daily KL Flights stimulate Phuket airline competition

Firefly officials have predicted an increase in Malaysian tourists for Phuket as the daily service at affordable prices attracts a larger reputation. AirAsia also intends to open an office on beach road in Patong in a few weeks, perhaps in the knowledge that competition is becoming intense, especially on pricing.

As AirAsia plans to make Phuket a new hub for the low-cost brand, the competition is bound to benefit price-conscious passengers. Penang and KL are proving increasingly popular with people making visa runs from Phuket. Flights will leave KL daily at 2.40pm and arrive on Phuket at 3.10pm. Flights to KL leave Phuket at 3.30pm daily and arrive at 6pm.

The Firefly fleet of six 72-seat ATR 72-500 turboprop aircraft are all new, the most ancient being seven months old. Malaysian Airline Systems takes care of maintenance. The carrier forecasts that it will fly two million passengers in 2009 and aims to connect across 32 routes in Malaysia and 41 regional routes. The total fleet is projected to reach 20 by 2011.

Flights to Krabi and Hua Hin from Kuala Lumpur are also coming as the existing Firefly network within Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand is expanded to more destinations in Thailand’s south.

Firefly is a no-frills low-cost carrier, an offshoot of MAS. The small aircraft are adaptable and because they are propellor-driven, less expensive and more effective at short airstrip destinations.

Flights are being offered at 1170 Baht one-way, all costs included. Flights back are at 88 ringgit. Baggage allowance is 20k with complimentary snacks on board.