Thai Airways daily Dreamliner service a boost for trade

Media Release

Thai Airways daily Dreamliner service a boost for trade

Thai Airways has launched daily Dreamliner flights between Auckland and Bangkok, giving New Zealand businesses extra capacity to take advantage of fast-growing trade ties with Thailand.

The additional flights will add 1,200 seats a week between the two cities, and grow freight capacity by 51 tonnes per week, an increase of 68 percent.

“We’re committed to helping grow and strengthen New Zealand’s market ties with Thailand through our new daily Dreamliner service which will offer business travellers 30 Royal Silk Class seats (business) to Bangkok daily, boosting business class capacity by 40 per cent per week,” says Thai Airways General Manager for New Zealand Karun Sirarojanakul.

The expansion in capacity comes as New Zealand exporters are increasingly taking advantage of improved market access with Thailand. The two countries signed an agreement in Bangkok earlier this year increasing the volume of New Zealand dairy products that can enter Thailand under a preferential tariff rate, and trade between the two countries has generally been growing in recent years.

The latest increase in seating capacity means Thai International Airways has added more than 30,000 seats to the Auckland-Bangkok route per year.

The Dreamliner replaces the 777-200ER aircraft, used on the route since 2008. Given the extended capacity and range of the new 787-9 Dreamliner, it can transport more passengers as well as cargo, opening new long distance non-stop routes for the airline as a result.

Thailand is now New Zealand's eighth largest trade market, with total trade in goods between the countries increasing almost 150 per cent since the Closer Economic Partnership was signed in 2005.

The total trade figure between New Zealand and Thailand is now worth $3.62 billion and it is estimated this service is worth $53million to New Zealand’s economy.

Sirarojanakul says, “There has been an increasing demand for business class seats and the Dreamliner is our commitment to support business growth on the Auckland-Bangkok route.”

December marks the 30th anniversary of flights between New Zealand and Thailand.

ENDS
Released on behalf of Thai Airways. For interviews, further information or images please contact Di@anthem.co.nz and 027 522 3969.

Editor’s Notes:

More about Thai Airways 787-9 Dreamliner daily service AKL-BKK

· Thai Airways’ new 787-9 Dreamliner features 30 Royal Silk Class (Business Class) seats. Each of the Royal Silk Class seats are brand new and can recline to a long bed in full-flat, 180-degree position. The seats are shell-typed, arranged in a new 1-2-1 abreast configuration allowing for privacy and easy aisle access

· The aircraft has 268 Economy Class seats

· The 787-9 Dreamliner is currently the most technologically advanced aircraft as well as the most modern and efficient, featuring the largest window of any jet

· The aircraft is equipped with Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines. The combination of advanced engines, aerodynamics and composite structures contribute to 20% reduced fuel consumption and 20% less emissions compared to older, similar aircraft. It also produces less noise around airport boundaries and nearby communities

· The cabin has higher pressure and humidity that helps passengers to overcome travel fatigue

· Thai Airways is the first airline to install 787-9 with the newest inflight entertainment system, the Panasonic system eX3, for all passengers on board. Royal Silk Class monitors are 16-inch while Economy Class monitors are 11-inch with screen-swipe technology, just like the swipe features on smartphone and tablet devices

· Thai Airways’ first 787-9 Dreamliner was royally bestowed the name “Phatthana Nikhom.”

· Thai Airways’ Dreamliner interior is based on the Contemporary Thai design concept, with 298 seats in a two-class cabin.

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