THAI Introduces Service to Mumbai, India

Thai Airways International Public Company Limited will inaugurate a new destination in the Winter Schedule 2001/2002 on the route Bangkok-Mumbai, India, on 30 October 2001. Among the guests of honor attending the inaugural event include Mrs. Juthamas Siriwan, Deputy Governor of the Tourism Authority, as well as members of the press.

Members of THAI's Management who will attend the inaugural launch event in Mumbai, India are Mr. Virabongsa Ramangkura, THAI's Chairman and Acting President and Mr. Mongkholmal Prabhavat, THAI's Director for Region Coordination Western Region Department, covering Indochina, Myanmar, South Asia, and the Middle East.

Mr. Virabongsa Ramangkura, Thai Airways International's Chairman and Acting President, said that THAI's main goal in operating to this new destination, Mumbai, is to serve business travellers from various countries who seek air transportation to and from Mumbai. Operating into Mumbai will prove to be advantageous for Thailand as well as India's economy, since India is currently experiencing a high rate of economic growth. India's growth rate, particularly in the area of information technology, is the reason why there is an increasing demand from business travellers worldwide. The city of Mumbai receives nearly half of a total 9 million passengers travelling from points around the world into India.

THAI will operate on the route Bangkok-Mumbai v.v., utilizing Airbus 330 aircraft, capable of accommodating 317 passengers: with 50 passenger seats in business class and 267 passenger seats in economy class. THAI flights will operate 3 times per week on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, with flights departing Bangkok at 19:35 hours and arriving in Mumbai on 22:30 hours, the return flight departing Mumbai at 23:50 hours and arriving in Bangkok at 05:30 hours the following day.

Currently, THAI flies to two destinations in India, those being Delhi and Calcutta. THAI operates daily with 7 flights per week to Delhi and operates 3 flights per week to Calcutta, on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday. With the additional destination of Mumbai, THAI will operate a total of 51 destinations and 33 countries worldwide (figures not including Bangkok and Thailand).

Mumbai (formerly called Bombay) is the capital of the state of Maharashtra, India, with a population of approximately 18 million people, covering an area of approximately 170 square miles. Mumbai is the oldest Indian shipping port, situated on the West Coast of India, and is considered the nation's commercial center in terms of investment, banking, and stock exchange. The state of Maharashtra gains earnings of more than USD 1,900 billion worth of capital investment per year. In addition to airport operations facilitated out of Mumbai's international airport, called Sahar International Airport, Mumbai serves as India's entertainment and cultural center and is home to the largest film industry in India, known as the Hollywood of the East or "Bollywood".