THAI local fares to rise as fuel costs soar

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THAI local fares to rise as fuel costs soar 
Bangkok Post: 30 Mar 2010
Air fares set to take off as fuel costs soar

Passenger boats and ferries to follow suit

Thai Airways International is increasing its domestic fares on April 1 and the operators of passenger boats and ferries in Bangkok will follow suit after the Songkran festival to cover higher fuel costs.

THAI president Piyasvasti Amranand yesterday said fares for THAI's domestic flights would rise on Thursday to cover higher fuel costs. The increments set by the Civil Aviation Board would fall within a range of up 13 baht a kilometre.

The highest increment of 2,920 baht would be on the Chiang Mai-Phuket route, while the lowest of 165 baht would be on the Bangkok-Surat Thani route.

"We decided to raise fares because operations on most domestic routes remain loss-ridden..."' Mr Piyasvasti said.

"The increments will not reach the ceiling except [on] the Samui route fare, which will rise to the ceiling of 13 baht a kilometre because the operator of Samui airport has raised the aircraft parking fee."

Fares will rise on the 566km Bangkok-Chiang Mai route by 740 baht from 2,185 to 2,925 baht, on the 678km Bangkok-Chiang Rai route by 815 baht from 2,840 to 3,655 baht, on the 387km Bangkok-Khon Kaen route by 580 baht from 1,955 to 2,535 baht, on the 457km Bangkok-Udon Thani route by 475 baht from 2,200 to 2,675 baht, and on the 483km Bangkok-Ubon Ratchathani route by 575 baht from 2,295 to 2,870 baht.

Fares will increase on the 667km Bangkok-Krabi route by 725 baht from 2,860 to 3,585 baht, on the 696km Bangkok-Phuket route by 1,195 baht from 2,575 to 3,770 baht, on the 552km Bangkok-Surat Thai route by 165 baht from 2,670 to 2,835 baht, on the 489km Bangkok-Samui route by 1,895 baht from 2,975 to 4,870 baht, on the 770km Bangkok-Hat Yai route by 1,365 baht from 2,885 to 4,250 baht, and on the 1,263km Chiang Mai-Phuket route by 2,920 baht from 4,535 to 7,455 baht.

The fares exclude the fuel surcharge and insurance premium of 755 baht.

The airline will keep its international air fares unchanged.

Deputy Transport Minister Kuerkul Danchaivichit said the ministry would allow the fares of passenger boats and ferries on the Chao Phraya River and Klong Saen Saep in Bangkok to rise by up to one baht after the Songkran festival because fuel costs have increased considerably.

On the Chao Phraya River, the fares of yellow-flagged passenger boats will rise from 18-27 baht to 19-28 baht, and those of other passenger boats will increase from 8-13 baht to 9-14 baht.

The fare for ferries on the river will edge up from three to 3.50 baht.

The fares for passenger boats on Klong Saen Saep will increase from 8-20 baht to 9-21 baht.

Mr Kuerkul said the new fares were based on a diesel price of 28.75 baht a litre. High-speed diesel was retailing at 28.79 baht a litre yesterday.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/35262/air-fares-set-to-take-off-as-fuel-costs-soar