PHUKET- Is Phuket ready to give Bangkok a run for its money as the top tourist draw Thailand?

Australians are among those who appear to think so.

Last month, Pacific Blue launched direct service from Perth to Phuket.

This month V Australia launched non-stop flights from Melbourne.

And next week, Jetstar adds two more services per week from Sydney to Phuket, bringing the carrier’s total number of services per week to five during the busy December and January period.

“Phuket is a perennial favorite among Aussies as an international holiday destination,” said Simon Westaway, Jetstar’s head of corporate relations. …click here to read more

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THE International Air Services Commission has allocated the equivalent of 3.15 jumbo jets of capacity to Pacific Blue to allow it to start daily services between Australia and Phuket using 180-seat Boeing 737-800s.

The airline says it plans to use the capacity fully by April. The commission also provisionally approved the continuation of code sharing between Qantas and Air Niugini until June 30, 2012.

No more gridlock

BRISBANE Airport expects newly opened and privately funded toll-free road Moreton Drive to reduce traffic congestion. The airport described the new road as a “massive boost in capacity for Brisbane Airport’s road network”.

Melbourne trials

QANTAS has started required navigation performance (RNP) trials in Melbourne as its pushes for more satellite-based approaches. RNP uses the global position system to optimise approach and departure tracks. It also improves the ability of pilots to land and take off in bad weather.

Applications open

ASPIRING pilots can apply now for one of 11 $6000 Airservices Australia-funded scholarships to be awarded next year. The scholarships will be awarded by the Royal Federation of Aero Clubs of Australia, Australian Women Pilots Association and the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association of Australia.

Concourse unveiled

MELBOURNE airport this week unveiled a new 7000sq m passenger concourse, the first stage in its $330 million terminal expansion. Terminal Two can operate three more aircraft bays including two gates with dual-level aerobridges to accommodate the A380. V Australia started flying from Melbourne this week and Qatar begins flight to Doha on Sunday.

Awaiting results

BOEING has completed static testing on modifications to the 787 and should have a full analysis of the results by next week. The testing is a precursor to its planned first test flight this month.

Clarification

MAX Moore-Wilton was incorrectly described last week as the first Australian to become the chairman of the Airports Council International governing board. Former Federal Airports Corp executive Jack Moffatt held the post between March 1992 and November 1995.

Popularity: 2% [?]

PHUKET CITY: ‘Phuket Carnival at Patong 2009’ kicked off in style yesterday with fireworks, a colorful parade and plenty of activities along the Patong beachfront.

The grand opening began at 5:30pm with a welcome speech by Phuket Governor Wichai Phraisa-ngop, followed by a parade from the football field all the way along the beach road south to the Holiday Inn.

Among the 56 government and private-sector organizations taking part in the colorful spectacle were: Patong Municipality, Dowroong School, Kathu Police, Patong Hospital, Simon Cabaret, Jungceylon, Central and several other communities in Patong and other parts of Kathu.

During the six-day festival, there will be a wide variety of live entertainment starting at 7pm at a beachfront stage near the end of Soi Bangla.

Headline acts, which hit the stage at 10pm, will be: Sweet Mullett (tonight), Cham Chamrum (tomorrow), Thaitanium (Friday), Hangman (Saturday) and Som Amra (Sunday).

The event is co-hosted by the Phuket Provincial Office, Patong Municipality and the Phuket Tourist Association.

The beer sponsor is Chang, which has contributed 40 million baht to ensure everyone has a good time.

Despite being held back to avoid heavy rains that washed out carnivals early last month, last night’s fun got a slight damper by intermittent thundershowers that started at around 10pm.

Tonight’s forecast by the Meteorological Department calls for widely scattered thundershowers covering 30% of the island and northeasterly winds from 15kmh to 30kmh.

Popularity: unranked [?]