New small airplane service takes off in Chiang Mai

budget-lines-charter-plane

SMALL airplane operator Budget Lines took off in Chiang Mai earlier this month, offering private air taxi and charter services for tourists and businesses in the region.

Flights last approximately 30 minutes and are primarily targeted at Chinese and domestic visitors.

“The twin-engine airplanes has eight passenger seats and two pilot seats. It will be used for four tours a day – two in the morning and two in the afternoon – and costs 8,800 baht (US$246) per person,” explained Noppadol Jornpak, executive director, Budget Lines.

“The plane can also be hired as charter flights, such as from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai for 45,000 baht one-way or 170,000 baht round-trip.”

Anchalee Vittayanuntapornkul, owner of CM Paradise Tour, thinks that the service will add more variety to the already popular city of Chiang Mai.

“Chinese tourists can afford the tour. They have money to spend here and the new service will add excitement to the town,” she said.

Director of sales and marketing at Standard Tour, Vorapong Muchaotai, who was on one of the flights, agreed that this service has a lot of potential as he is already seeing a lot of interest from China and Taiwan.

Still, Standard Tour has yet to include Budget Lines’ offerings into its packages.

“We are waiting for them to come up with our recommended route. They need to feature the city’s most iconic spots in order to draw more people to book,” said Vorapong.

By Nicholas Yong

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