SilkAir to Fly Singapore – Koh Samui

Singapore-based SilkAir is to inaugurate flights between Singapore Changi and Koh Samui in September, becoming the fifth carrier to operate flights to the popular Thai resort island. The airline will introduce a three times weekly schedule from September 27 using a two-class Airbus A319 and will co-operate with Independent Thai carrier Bangkok Airways. The latter already offers a daily service on the route and currently dominates traffic from Koh Samui with an 88.0 per cent share of the capacity there.

The two airlines will introduce a codeshare arrangement which will cover the new flight as well as Bangkok Airways’ existing link. An estimated 48,000 O&D passengers travelled between the two destinations in the past year. Although traffic has slipped 4.8 per cent on the previous 12 months, yields have strengthened with the average fare rising from $123 to $131 each way.

SilkAir already serves Phuket and Chiang Mai from its Changi airport hub and is moving to tap new traffic opportunities on Thailand's second-largest island, which is especially popular among Westerners. It already co-operates with Bangkok Airways on these two flights and will introduce a new marketing arrangement on flights to Koh Samui from Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Phuket.

Schedule:

MI772 SIN0810 – 0900USM 319 247
MI771 USM0945 – 1235SIN 319 247