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Thailand-based Thai Sky Airlines has set up an office in Hong Kong overseeing sales and marketing of the airline?s new services to regional travellers ? the airline?s first base outside of Bangkok.

It joined the Hong Kong aviation market by launching its first flight between Bangkok and Hong Kong earlier this year. Starting 15 July, the Airlines will serve four flights between Bangkok and Hong Kong weekly.

The General Manager of Thai Sky Airlines Co, Ltd, Mr Freeman So said, ?We see tremendous business opportunities and room for growth in the Asian region, especially in Thailand, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Mainland China.  With the booming economy and growing affluence of regional travellers, we expect the aviation market pie to expand for both business and leisure travellers.?

Mr So discussed the advantages of Hong Kong for Thai Sky.  He said, ?With its strategically central location, Hong Kong provides the ideal base for airlines. Our customers can fly to most of the Asian region in five hours or less.  In addition, the vibrant tourism industry here offers a readily available market for our services.  The city?s excellent infrastructure, particularly Hong Kong International Airport, and the opportunity to establish contacts with a large number of local and foreign media and marketing channels make Hong Kong a great investment destination?.

According to Mr So, Thai Sky Airlines positions itself as a ?low fare airline.?  It enhances its competitiveness by offering a full range of services ? such as hot meals, newspapers and magazines and reserved seating -- which are not usually available on budget airlines.  The airfare is comparable to that of budget airlines.

The Associate Director-General of Investment Promotion at Invest Hong Kong, Mr Simon Galpin, warmly welcomed the addition of Thai Sky Airlines to the aviation community in Hong Kong.

He said, ?Its investment here further strengthens Hong Kong?s position as the aviation hub of choice in Asia.  Our excellent multilingual workforce can facilitate recruitment of local staff by international airlines.  The new direct flights offer travellers more choice when flying between Bangkok and Hong Kong, one of the most popular routes in the region, thus boosting our tourism industry.  We look forward to Thai Sky?s continuing expansion from the Hong Kong base and wish the airline every success.?

Thai Sky Airlines has plans to buy more aircraft and apply for listing in Thailand and Hong Kong.  It launched another flight between Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur in May and will start a flight to Taipei at end of July this year.  Thai Sky expects to expand its destinations to Seoul, India, and Mainland cities in future.

Invest Hong Kong is the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government department charged with encouraging and facilitating inward investment into the city by providing all the support needed to establish a business presence here.

Ends/Wednesday, June 29, 2005
Issued at HKT 18:13

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