by Melissa Nicholas

Flights to South & Southeast Asia – The Flight Hub

Across Asia

New flight routes open and change all the time across South and Southeast Asia. Some can make itineraries harder (for example a direct route changing to an indirect route) but most open up new avenues and adventures that make connecting different countries and cities much easier. We won’t mention them all as flight routes are a constantly changing beast. However, we will detail our favourite new flight routes and key points about flights to South and Southeast Asia – those that can make a positive impact on your holiday possibilities.

NEW April 2025

New Daily Flight from Vientiane to Sam Neua, Laos

A good option for those adventurous souls wanting to explore the north of the country with a rich history and dramatic landscapes (like the Viengxay Caves).

It’s also easy to hop over to Vietnam from here and vice versa.

RECENT November 2024

Etihad set to launch 10 new flight routes in 2025

Etihad will add 10 new destinations to its offering next year. Here at ETG, we’ve got our eyes firmly on Southeast Asia. Top of the list? Thailand’s Chiang Mai and Krabi. These routes are absolute game-changers, opening up a seamless north-to-south adventure (via our favourite Golidlicks island, Koh Lanta!).

September 2024

Direct flights to Jaffna, Sri Lanka from Chennai, India with IndiGo

IndiGo will launch direct flights from Chennai, Tamil Nadu to Jaffna, in the northern tip of Sri Lanka. Operating daily, this new route opens up various interesting itineraries combining India and Sri Lanka so we’re very excited about it.

September 2024

Direct flights to Labuan Bajo, Indonesia from Kuala Lumpar, Malaysia with AirAsia

AirAsia will launch direct flights from Kuala Lumpur to Labuan Bajo, Indonesia. Operating thrice weekly, this new route makes visiting the gateway to Komodo National Park easier.

August 2024

Direct flights to the Andaman Islands with AirAsia’s New Kuala Lumpur-Port Blair Route

Starting 16th November 2024, AirAsia will launch direct flights from Kuala Lumpur to Port Blair in the Andaman Islands, making it the first airline to connect this Indian beach paradise with ASEAN countries. Operating thrice weekly, this new route opens up exciting possibilities for travellers looking to explore the pristine waters and rich marine life of the Andamans.

We’re thrilled about this development, as it makes reaching one of India’s most stunning off-the-beaten-path destinations easier than ever. With less time spent in transit, travellers can fully immerse themselves in the unique experiences that Port Blair and the surrounding islands have to offer.

June 2023

Direct flights to Vietnam from London Heathrow to Resume

Vietnam Airlines are now offering daily direct flights from Heathrow to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh. As of July, the frequency of flights will increase from three to five flights a week.

January 2023

Direct flights to Goa and Kerala as part of Air India’s Gatwick debut this spring

From 26th March 2023, Air India will operate from Gatwick Airport for the first time, with Twelve flights a week to four destinations.

We’re delighted as these direct flights open up the possibility of some intriguing southern Indian itineraries with a direct connection to Gatwick. The less time and faff people spend flying, the easier it is to enjoy some immersive, off-the-beaten track experiences in India.

April 2022

Flying to, in, and from Asia is getting easier

As Asia really started to open back up in March, airlines are now following suit. Here are our favorite developments over the last few months:

Vietnam Airlines are now flying direct from Heathrow to Vietnam a few times a week.
With Thai Airways you can now connect via Bangkok to Luang Prabang – lovely Laos is accessible again!
Air India has also launched direct flights from Heathrow to Cochin, the first time there have been direct flights into Kerala. There might be three UK carriers servicing India soon as well AND Jet Airways is on its way back.
Air Asia has expanded its network closer to pre-pandemic levels with links between Malaysia, Thailand, and India
You can fly Singapore to Danang again which opens up great summer holidays to and around Hoi An!
Malaysia Airlines will have two daily flights from London to Kuala Lumpur from July in time for summer wildlife holidays to Borneo.

BUT…

British Airways have decided not to return to Bangkok till at least 2023, thus missing the key leisure travel season from October-March. It’s due to various factors, two of them being they have a shortage of long haul planes and that Bangkok is not a particularly strong Business travel route at the moment. A shame, but watch this space for another airline to fill the gap along with Thai Airways and Eva Air.

March 2022

Will airfares rise?

As events around the world affect supply chains and economies, will the price of jet fuel increase and be passed onto leisure travelers?

Feb 2022

A new airport opens in the Maldives

Accessibility within the Maldives has improved with the opening of Madivaru Airport in the Lhaviyani Atoll. Domestic flights between Velana (the main international airport for the Maldives, in Male) and Madivaru are scheduled to connect with Sri Lankan Airlines, Lufthansa, British Airways, Qatar Airways, Emirates, Singapore Airlines & Turkish Airlines to make journeys smoother.

Nov 2021

New Non-Stop Flights from London to Vietnam

Bamboo Airways is to deploy Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft from Heathrow to both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City from early 2022 following the announcement of a new free trade agreement between the UK and Vietnam.

This is great news following the disruption caused by the regular schedule changes from Vietnam Airlines who previously were the only airline to offer direct flights from the UK to Vietnam. It will be interesting to see if Vietnam Airlines take any action on schedules now and if they re-instate their direct services.

Watch this space!

Nov 2021

Scoot Expands Europe Network to London Gatwick Airport

Scoot, the low-cost subsidiary of Singapore Airlines (SIA) recently named the World’s Best Long-Haul Low-Cost Airline, celebrates yet another milestone with the announcement of a new service between Singapore and London’s Gatwick Airport via Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport.

Oct 2021

The Konkan coastline is more accessible to Mumbai

Following on from the below post, India is now also showing signs of more domestic routes opening up. Chipi airport, close to ETG favourite Coco Shambhala Sindhudurg is now operating a daily flight to and from Mumbai. This makes the stunning Konkan coastline more accessible and is another route into inland Goa.

From Sindhudurg to Mumbai the only previous option was the beautiful train ride, but being 10 hours isn’t necessarily for everyone. Now that India is opening its borders again we hope this is a positive step forward and opens up a great beginning or ending to a fantastic holiday to India.

Sep 2021

AirAsia to launch Hua Hin-Chiang Mai route

As Asian countries plan to start opening their borders in the next few months and into 2022, the first signs of new domestic and regional routes are starting to show. A prime example is the new Air Asia route from Hua Hin to the northern hub of Chiang Mai.

Thailand has operated the Phuket Sandbox model since July and as cases start to decline, other parts of the country are slated to begin opening up from November 1st. Will this flight start the slow route to Air Asia redeveloping its network of flights within Thailand and Southeast Asia? Only time will tell.

July 2021

How are airlines doing in South and Southeast Asia during Covid?

A very interesting update about the current state of airlines in Asia from the team at the South East Asia Travel Podcast.

The podcast discusses the varying challenges facing carriers in the region, including Singapore Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, Thai Airways and Garuda Indonesia. Plus, how can Low-Cost Carriers (LCCs) survive if international travel doesn’t occur soon? With that in mind, there seems to be an array of new airlines making applications to operate in the region – so there could be a number of new players in the market soon.

If you don’t have much time, skip the first 5 minutes 15 seconds of the podcast as that focuses on the career of Brendan Sobie who is being interviewed.

May 2021

More AVIOS seats are guaranteed with BA

As of 28th May 2021 British Airways have announced there will now be at least 14 Avios seats per flight for long haul routes. Additional seats are available on virtually EVERY British Airways flight between 28th July 2021 and 17th May 2022 and it’s a permanent change. For those with AVIOS points, this is great news. Two key points we’ve picked out are:

The number of guaranteed Club World seats per flight is now four and not two – this is huge news for families!
Two World Traveller Plus seats are now guaranteed for the first time

You can read all about how to get great business class flights for economy prices with BA and how to get and spend air miles in general – both from our resident flight connoisseur, Matt.

March 2021

The Impact of Covid 19 on flight routes in Asia

As you can imagine lots of flights to South & Southeast Asia have been cancelled or at least postponed over the last year. We’re constantly monitoring the situation and are only quoting on routes we know will be guaranteed to fly. It will certainly be interesting to see what routes come back into action and which ones don’t once there is a bit more certainty in Asia. Do remember that Experience Travel Group are ATOL bonded meaning your money is safe and fully refundable if flight routes changes and we can’t offer the same flights as you booked.

January 2020

Qatar Airways to launch direct Doha to Siem Reap service

We’re delighted to hear that Qatar Airways will be launching a direct service from Doha to Siem Reap from November 2020. This is great news as it really helps open up Cambodia, a destination in its own right, meaning you have the easiest connections compared to going via Dubai and Bangkok with Emirates or Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur or Singapore with other airlines. That Qatar Airways are one of the best airlines out there, is a bonus!

April 2019

Jet Airways Suspend All Flights

Today Jet Airways have officially confirmed the suspension of all their flights due to lack of funding.

We have been dealing with numerous schedules changes for clients over the last couple of months so this announcement comes as no surprise. Fortunately, India, the airlines main market, is very well connected both internationally and domestically so beyond time changes we have been able to move all our clients smoothly and as ETG are ATOL bonded their money is protected anyway.

It will be interesting now to see what happens domestically and if any other growing low-cost airlines within the country jump in and take over Jet Airways routes.

February 2019

London to Bali Direct

Garuda airlines launched the first-ever direct flight from London to Bali on 22nd January 2019. Previously, the carrier had only operated direct flights from London to Jakarta. However, they have recently re-routed the service as part of a restructuring strategy.

The direct flights from London Heathrow to Bali Denpasar currently run three times a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at 9.55pm, landing in Bali at 9.15pm local time. Flights will take place on a Boeing 777-300 aircraft and last approximately 15 hours and 35 minutes.

However, the flight is only direct one way. Inbound passengers to London will still have to get a connecting flight via Jakarta.

Holidays to Bali have been popular among UK tourists for some time now, with the UK being Bali’s fourth largest tourism market. However, the long-distance has often been prohibitive – the Indonesian island is almost 8,000 miles away from the UK – especially for those who are unable to take prolonged holidays.

In our opinion, the new flight route is a brilliant thing. Bali is fabulous, and having a direct flight will make the long-distance feel a lot more manageable. There is a huge range of things to do in Bali, from discovering the extraordinarily beautiful countryside and evocative Hindu temples to unwinding on beautiful beaches (see our guide to the best beaches in Bali).

Island-hopping holidays in Indonesia

What we’re particularly excited about, however, is that the direct flight will open up multi-island holidays with Bali’s lesser-visited neighbours, such as Komodo, Flores, Lombok and Sulawesi, as it will take just a two-flight combination to get there and back (via Jakarta). The direct to Bali flight also comes on the back of the direct flight to Jakarta which opened in 2016 and provides access to more of Java and Kalimantan.

For years Bali has taken centre stage on the international tourism front. Yet few people realise that Indonesia is made up of between 13,000 and 17,000 islands (even the Indonesian government can’t count them!) that offer countless incredible experiences for curious travellers. Check out the link to explore more Indonesian holiday ideas.

Sulawesi, for example, is a phenomenal island found to the east of Borneo and South of the Philippines. It is the world’s 11th largest island – more than three times the size of Bali, though it receives a fraction of the number of visitors. In Sulawesi, you can spot rare wildlife, visit both dynamic markets and colourful gardens, or explore the fascinating Torajan approach to death in the verdant south.

We have a holiday suggestion called ‘Contrasts of Bali and Sulawesi’ . The new route makes the trip much more affordable than in previous times (you can expect to save up to £200 per person), as well as easier – especially for those with less time to play with, or those travelling with kids.

August 2018

New flight routes in India

India’s domestic flights are on the increase making it quicker and easier to get between destinations than ever before. Now you can fly from secondary cities direct and avoid stopovers in Delhi and Mumbai. This recent trend is brilliant for travellers who don’t want to spend too much time in the busy major cities and want to discover more off the beaten track locations.

In 2016 the government launched a pro-tourism scheme that meant a sharp rise in the number of domestic flights around the country. There is also a growing middle class in the country with a desire to travel both domestically and internationally. Demand soared by 28.1% compared with July 2015 which is a significant figure: in China, the growth was just 10.9% and in the US it was 5.9%. Excess charges for extra baggage is also going down 100rs from 300rs across domestic carriers (95rs roughly converts to £1) which is fantastic news for those who don’t want to pack light.

Links from Kolkata (Calcutta) to Lucknow and Jaipur to Bangalore make it easier to combine central and east or north-south combinations in holidays. Ultimately this trend means travel between sites of interest can be direct and we can avoid layover stays in busy cities making for a much better experience.

For 2018, here are James’s new favourite flight routes in India:

1. Hyderabad to Vidyanagar direct flight opens up the glorious boulder-strewn landscape of Hampi. You’d use this flight on a holiday like our Varied landscapes of South India.

2. Lucknow to Hyderabad direct flights – another great link from north to south that connects two fascinating but different cities.

3. Trichy to Cochin – connects Tamil Nadu to Kerala really well so you can discover both in a two-week trip.

4. Jaipur to Varanasi – connects the pink city of Jaipur and the Golden Triangle with the holy city of Varanasi.

5. Delhi to Bikaner which is the key town of the lesser-visited Shekhawati region, where the new and much-hyped Narendra Bhawan hotel has recently opened. You can discover Bikaner on the same trip as the amazing Golden Temples in Amritsar.

6. Guwahati to Paro in Bhutan opens up Assam with a link to Bhutan. You can also cross the border overland from Samdrup Jongkar which is 2 hours from Guwahati and drive into East Bhutan for a great adventure.

Additionally, by the end of 2018, there will be a great new flight connecting the amazing Coco Shambhala Sindudurg to Mumbai – a great, luxurious way to end a fascinating holiday. Sikkim in the Northeast will also have a fully functioning airport so you can easily reach the beautiful mountainous region from Kolkata.

International aviation companies like AirAsia are also improving connectivity to the rest of Asia making it easier to do multi-country trips. This means you can combine India with countries like Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia. Notable routes include Bangkok to Bagdogra, Madurai to Colombo and Bhubaneshwar to Bangkok. Exciting stuff!

A final bonus: it’s not just flight connections that are improving. The highway from Agra to Lucknow has been recently developed, offering a way to see lesser-visited North India by road while still including the Taj Mahal (see a holiday like our Less Discovered Northern India for more inspiration). On the whole, roads are also getting better, but unlike in countries like China, the government are conscious of farmers rights’ and make a concerted effort not to cut into their land, which slows development down.

Plus, the Tejas Express links Mumbai to Goa across the incredible Konkan Coast. This new line is exceptionally comfortable and stylish, providing free wifi and clear windows for the view (it’s more comfortable than the Mandovi express that runs on the same line). Solar-powered trains are now in action across the country, too.

All in all, you’ll find a much easier and more flexible travel experience across India. I’d be happy to chat with you in more detail about the new routes if you’d like.

April 2017

Sri Lanka Airlines opens up little known Gan Island

As part of their renewed focus on expanding regional routes, Sri Lankan airlines have become the first international airline to offer a destination in The Maldives beyond Male. There are currently 4 flights a week between Colombo and Gan so there is ample opportunity to understand the culture in the Maldives. This is something we at ETG are really excited about and you can read more about Gan Island and what it has to offer.

April 2017

AirAsia expand Network

Due to an increase in demand, low-cost carrier AirAsia has drastically increased its network of flights, increasing the number of new flight routes in Asia significantly.

Our favourite new routes AirAsia routes are:

Bali (Denpasar) to Labuan Bajo which opens up Komodo Island National Park.
Siem Reap to Danang – a great link between the incredible temples of Angkor and the beaches of Hoi An.
Kuala Lumpur to Bhubaneshwar which opens up the east coast of India and off the beaten track state of Orissa.
Kuching to Langkawi means you can combine the amazing wildlife experiences of Borneo with a luxury beach stay, something that Borneo doesn’t quite offer.
Kota Kinabalu to Johor Baru – like the above link you also have the option to combine Borneo with Japamala on Tioman island.

June 2016

New flights between Vietnam and Cambodia

We’re excited by the new route between Vietnam’s southern capital Saigon (Ho Chi Minh) and the white-sand beach destination of Sihanoukville in Cambodia.

Launched by Cambodian Angkor Air, it opens up the two countries making them even easier to combine in one holiday with a beach stay in the middle of your trip, letting you reflect on experiences in each country before further cultural exploration.

Launching from 17^th June, the flights will take place five times a week on a Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday using a 70-seater ATR-72 aircraft. Flight times are at a very comfortable 1450 from Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) arriving at Sihanoukville at 1550. The return flight is at 1240 arriving at Saigon at 1340.

For those wanting to reach one of the Sihanoukville beach resorts, they are generally just a 20-minute car journey from the airport. The flight particularly suits those who want to have a relaxing stay at the eco-luxury property Song Saa, a 45 speedboat from Sihanoukville Port and arguably one of the best private island resorts in the world.

It’s previously been difficult to get from Vietnam to Sihanoukville and vice versa because of precarious transport routes. For example, to get to Sihanoukville from Vietnam you’d have to fly to Siem Reap and then take a connecting flight to the coastal city or you’d have to fly to Phnom Penh and drive for four hours. This new flight cuts out a long drive and having to take 2 flights – which sometimes don’t even connect, which is fantastic.

April 2016

Direct route from Bangkok to Danang (Hoi An)

Well, every now and then a flight comes along that could stop even the most passive of travellers in their tracks and thankfully this day has arrived. I think I’ve dreamt about this flight before. Genuinely. It’s one of those flights we’ve talked about in the office again and again. We wished it would just exist and couldn’t work out why it didn’t!

Now you can fly from Bangkok to Danang (Hoi An) with Bangkok Airways directly and back. (Or you could just fly it back and forth about 10 times for the sheer joy of how exciting it is!)

I jest, of course, but this honestly is a fantastic flight. Why? I hear you ask. The link to Hoi An is fantastic because the destination offers brilliant Vietnamese food, colonial history and amazing cultural experiences and is a great beach destination from May to October making it ideal for the summer holidays.

Bangkok is one of the key transport hubs of Asia and is home to a lot of new flight routes in Asia. This connection means that a flight via Hanoi or Saigon is no longer required to get to Hoi An and reaching this place is now easier and more cost-effective than ever.

The route will launch on 25th May 2016 and fly four times weekly from Bangkok and back. I personally can’t wait to start using it for my clients as that little bit of plane geek is buzzing with excitement.

March 2016

Emirates are flying to Yangon & Hanoi from August

Emirates is following a more general expansion of flights to South & Southeast Asia, making this area of the world more and more accessible. It opens up the possibility of easily combining Myanmar and Vietnam on a multi-centre holiday. The new routes are particularly useful for those who can’t or prefer not to fly from London and it cuts down the total number of connections involved.

The planned flight schedule details are:

Outbound to Asia:

Dubai to Yangon Dep. 0250, Arr. 1105|
Yangon to Hanoi Dep. 1235 Arr. 1450

Return from Asia:

Hanoi to Yangon Dep. 2250 Arr. 0020 the next day
Yangon to Dubai Dep. 0150 Arr. 0505

The flights starting from 3rd August 2016 will be on a Boeing 777-300ER with three class configurations: 8 First Class seats, 42 Business Class seats and 310 Economy Class seats, all boasting 2,200 channels of on-demand in-flight entertainment.

April 2015

APD Tax Abolished from 1st May

As someone once said (Benjamin Franklin according to Google), “there are only two certainties in life: death and taxes”. It’s not often you get good news on the tax front but from 1st May, 2015 APD (Air Passenger Duty) has been abolished for children under 12.

We’ve been passing on this saving for our family holidays to Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia ever since the change was announced, but we wanted to mark the date when an unfair tax was actually lowered. It’s been getting increasingly unreasonable year by year since it was introduced by Kenneth Clarke in 1993.

It will make a substantial difference to our family trips – making child prices genuinely lower than adults and we’re celebrating by paying for the flight of the second child of any family who books a holiday with us between today (22nd April) and the 30th April, 2015. To find out more enquire here.

Read more in the excellent Telegraph Travel section here.

March 2015

Emirates to Launch Daily Service to Bali From June

From June 2015, Emirates will operate a new non-stop service from Dubai to Bali, which will be the Middle Eastern airline’s 148th global destination.

Emirates’ new daily flight to Bali will depart from Dubai as EK398 at 08:20AM and arrive at Bali’s Denpasar International Airport at 21:40PM the same day. The return flight, EK399, will depart at 23:40PM and arrive at Dubai International Airport at 05:00AM the next day.

With opportunities to connect from many of the UK’s airports including London, Birmingham, Manchester and Glasgow, the luscious landscapes and beautiful beaches of Bali seem that little bit closer now!

Call us today on 0203 993 5750 to speak to Becky, our Bali and Indonesia specialist, or email [email protected] to arrange a callback or request further information.

January 2014

New Routes From Edinburgh to Asia with Qatar

Great news for all our clients and potential clients in Edinburgh, with the launch of a new Edinburgh to Doha service to be launched from the 28th May this year. This means that there will be connecting services from Edinburgh to Colombo, Bangkok, Rangoon and Ho Chi Minh City.

Qatar has kicked off the year with an excellent special offer from Edinburgh to Colombo, Sri Lanka of just £510 inclusive of taxes on selected flights from the 28th May. Clients booking onto this service will find the price over £100 cheaper than those quoted on our website. We worth enquiring today.

We’ve also got the same great special to Colombo from London and Manchester. Special January fare deals from Singapore Airlines and Thai Airlines too, so great discounts available all around on our published prices, both online and in our brochure.

September 2012

Dubai to Phuket with Emirates

Great news for us and all fans of Thailand holidays – Emirates flying directly into Phuket has just made options into Phuket a whole lot wider. No funny stuff with stop-offs in Kuala Lumpur or Bangkok – this is a straightforward direct flight.

It means for example, that Phuket is just two flights away from Glasgow or Newcastle.

Phuket has a slightly bad reputation these days amongst travel cognoscenti – but I think this is undeserved. Yes, the hot spots and fleshpots of Patong and a couple of other beaches should be avoided, but Phuket is a big island and has plenty of untouched natural spaces, superb hotels and great restaurants.

Moreover, if you are looking to really get away from it all and escape to that hidden Thai beach – this flight makes Koh Yao all the more reachable and in particular the wonderful Koyao Island Resort. Call us to talk through the possibilities for your Thailand holiday.

September 2012

Bangkok’s Don Mueang airport is now an international hub

Bangkok’s Don Mueang airport is to re-open as an international facility from October 2012, causing potential delays to those holidaying in Thailand who have already booked their trips. Following the opening of the city’s Suvarnabhumi Airport in 2006, Don Mueang became a purely domestic airport, with most low-cost carriers like Nok Air, Orient Thai and Solar Air enjoying the new sense of space.

Suvarnabhumi, for all its many strengths, has been beset by problems ever since its opening and has always divided opinion. For all the acclaim heaped on the airport’s modern design and services, it too has struggled to cope with the sheer volume of passengers that it was meant to solve, with Thailand holidays increasingly popular, whatever internal problems the country may have. Delays in processing passengers at immigration and a lack of availability in landing slots, caused mostly by an unusually high number of runway repairs have increased the bottle-neck effect throughout the airport. These problems were intensified when Don Mueang was closed due to flooding in 2011, which resulted in all low-cost carriers shifting operations to Suvarnabhumi. When Don Mueang re-opened, only Nok Air returned, meaning the Suvarnabhumi had even more resident carriers than before.

The question of what to do with Don Mueang has been something of a ‘political football’ for years in Thailand. As a huge expanse of land in an overcrowded city where real estate is the prime asset, many have felt that leaving this functioning airport used by a handful of planes a day was a complete waste. At the same time, there has been a lot of opinions voiced that a one-airport solution is the best way to handle Bangkok’s air traffic needs.

Allegations of corruption have always been at the forefront of these problems, with many assuming that Suvarnabhumi’s problems are not of design but of implementation. The airport Skytrain link was only opened in 2010, with lucrative limousine contracts handed out on a preferential basis, whilst the ongoing repair & staff problems are often explained by operational corner-cutting.

Rumours had been circulating of a plan to make Don Mueang an international airport for some time and its confirmation is not entirely unexpected. The big news is that Air Asia (the region’s largest low-cost carrier) will be shifting their operations to Don Mueang from October 2012. It was not clear if Bangkok Airways will also shift operations or remain at Suvarnabhumi.

The main issue with the two airport strategy is the lack of transport links. Bangkok’s road traffic needs no introduction and it was concerning that the re-opening of Don Mueang did not coincide with an announcement of a rail link or alternative transport solution.

I personally am in favour of the move, despite the initial problems it might cause. I hope the change will enable more low-cost international flights in the region, with Suvarnabhumi becoming the centre for long haul travel. The largest inconvenience will be for expats and Thais living throughout Thailand, who often use Air Asia and Bangkok Airways to connect to international flights in Bangkok. The shift should also strengthen Thai Airways, the country’s loss-making national carrier, whose internal flights have suffered from the extra competition. However, with the way Air Asia has grown in just 10 years from leasing one plane to owning over 100, don’t bank against them slowly making Don Mueang another hub of their own, akin to their original base in Kuala Lumpur.

January 2012

More direct flights from London to Sri Lanka

One of the great travails of being a tour operator that specialises in Sri Lanka has been the constant fiddling of dates involved in making sure that ‘flying direct’ with Sri Lankan airlines actually meant flying direct. Until now, the daily London to Colombo (and vice versa) flight with good times has touched down in The Maldives on 4 days of the week, adding two hours to the overall flying time. While there has always been an additional direct flight on all of these days, they have been at very unsociable hours, either arriving into or departing from Colombo in the middle of the night. This has led to a constant struggle to fit in all the conflicting requirements of the clients with the reality of the dates and times. To the great relief of everyone here at Experience Travel this problem is no more!!

From April 2012 neither the overnight flight from London to Colombo nor the afternoon flight from Colombo to London will touch down in The Maldives at any point during the week. While this does create the new headache of there being no carrier that flies direct to both The Maldives and Sri Lanka, this is, in our opinion at least, a small price to pay. It means that a wide range of itineraries in Sri Lanka becomes easier, more readily available and with far more flexibility. The seaplane from the south of the island once again connects with the direct flights to the UK 5 times a week, as does the new route from the hill country, both of which result in a considerably reduced amount of time spent in a car and avoid the need for a final night closer to the airport.

This change may not mean anything to you but this may well be the result of the fine work our consultants have done over the years in making the touchdown irrelevant to you! However, trust me when I say that it will make our life easier, allowing us to concentrate even more on the body of your holiday and offering an even better level of service (not possible I hear you cry). I can also assure you that while you may not realise it, your options in Sri Lanka have been enhanced and the amount you have to compromise, reduced.

December 2011

Laos is getting easier to fly too

Lao Airlines has announced a new route between Vientiane and Singapore – the first time the airline has operated a direct flight to this regional hub. The service will operate three times a week in each direction.

The Airline has also added the first of two, brand new, A320 aircraft from Airbus. The new modern craft will operate on the routes to Bangkok, Kunming, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, as well as on domestic services linking Vientiane to Luang Prabang and Pakse.

This is a further welcome development in Lao tourism and makes this mountainous, landlocked country much easier and less arduous to get to.

For holidays to Laos please visit our main website.

December 2011

Fly direct from London to Vietnam

As we have mentioned several times before, Vietnam Airlines are commencing their direct flights from London to Vietnam on the 8th December. This is a very exciting development for Vietnam tourism as it will shave as much as 12 hours of the average return journey time. There will initially be 4 flights weekly, flying into Hanoi and Saigon.

The schedule runs thus: Hanoi to London, two flights per week on Monday and Thursday at 23:40 and 06:20. Ho Chi Minh to London: two flights per week on Tuesday and Friday at 23:20 and 06:20.
London to Hanoi, two flights per week on Tuesday and Friday at noon and 06:30 and from London to Ho Chi Minh, two flights per week on Saturday and Wednesday, at noon and 07:10.

They will be flying Boeing 777’s.

There has never been a better time to holiday in Vietnam: the direct flights make it much easier and it is still great value – talk to us about this exciting, vibrant and changing country.

July 2011

You can fly direct from Gatwick to Vietnam

Yes: it’s true. Finally, there will be a direct flight from UK to Vietnam – Gatwick to be precise from the 8th December this year. There will be 2 direct flights a week to Hanoi and 2 to Saigon (Ho Chi Minh). It is old news now – but the fares are not quite available to book, but get in there ahead and talk to us now about your holiday in Vietnam.

February 2011

Airport tax changes in Cambodia

The Cambodian government has announced plans to change the airport departure tax system. From April 1st 2011, departure tax will now be included in all ticket prices. This is a welcome move and should facilitate smoother travel. I have seen numerous chaotic scenes at the airport in Phnom Penh with travellers forgetting about the 25 us dollars that the government collects between checking in and heading to the departure gate. It’s quite common for people to have spent their remaining dollars on some of the many goodies on offer in the capital before heading to the airport. The move means many will be spared the irritation and time consumed in queueing and the charges levied by having to use atm machines or credit cards to pay a fee which would be so much more simple was it included in the ticket price.

January 2011

Bangkok Skytrain check-in service opens

Following the long-delayed opening of the airport rail link between Suvarnabhumi airport and the city centre in August 2010, Bangkok has put itself at the cutting edge of travel by opening an airport check-in facility at Makkasan station. Travellers can now check their baggage in when in town and make the rest of the journey to the airport and the departure gate without the burden of luggage and the extra shopping that most people leave Bangkok with. The system vaguely mirrors that in Hong Kong and aims to raise the profile of the airport as a truly international hub. The service is initially open to clients flying with Thai Airways or Bangkok Airways but will be expanded across the board in due course. The rail link is a sure-fire way of avoiding the city’s much talked about traffic and getting a birds-eye view on the short journey to Suvarnabhumi.

October 2010

Doha to Phuket Service with Qatar Airways

Qatar Airways has announced welcome plans to start flights from Doha to Phuket later this month. The flight will not be direct, but will touch down in Kuala Lumpur before heading onto Phuket, meaning no plane change and no need for baggage to be offloaded. This is a welcome addition to the flights operating in and out of Thailand and makes it easier to fly to the south of Thailand from regional airports in the UK such as Manchester, Newcastle and Birmingham, all of which are serviced by Qatar flights to Doha. Qatar also flies out of both Heathrow and Gatwick, increasing options for people living in the south of the UK.

It also means people flying by Qatar will be able to fly into Bangkok and out of Phuket, without requiring an additional plane change, as is often the case. Qatar Airways are one of the most reliable carriers and we have been receiving continued positive feedback about their services from clients over the past few years, with particular mention being made to the quality of their in-flight entertainment and food.

flights

Melissa Nicholas

Melissa is one of the original members of team ETG. Having travelled extensively worldwide and worked in the industry for years, she pioneered our holidays to Southeast Asia in 2006. Now, as our Head of Product, Melissa makes sure we offer the most varied and interesting holidays in the business. She is famous for her eye for detail and works tirelessly to ensure each ETG experience is the best it can be. Melissa loves working in travel not only to feed her own wanderlust but because she gets to spark curiosity in others too – not least her two children, who have been lucky enough to accompany her all over Asia.