Friday, June 4 2010

PHUKET: In a show of confidence in tourism to Phuket, Firefly Airlines launched a host of new destination travel packages and promotional campaigns, including the ability to book tickets through mobile phones.

Angelina Fernandez, Firefly’s Head of Marketing & Communications, told a press conference at The Metropole hotel late last week that she didn’t think Phuket had been too badly affected by the recent unrest in Bangkok.

Firefly would maintain its current flight schedule of four round-trip flights a week between Penang and Phuket, and from October 31 will start operating daily flights to Samui.

“That tells you how confident we are about Thailand,” Ms Fernandez said.

Ms Fernandez said that the load factor on the Phuket-Penang route currently stands at 65% to 70%.

“We have no directional problems. The number of all leisure travelers and holidaymakers flying from Phuket to Penang compared with those flying from Penang to Phuket is very balanced,” she explained.

The new packages, launched under the pre-existing Firefly Holiday campaign, saw the Selangor-based ‘community’ airline greatly expand its range of destinations through increased integration with its parent company, Malaysia Airlines (MAS).

“Firefly Holiday has been around since we began operations, but it promoted only destinations Firefly served directly. But now it is integrated with MAS domestic services and to MAS destinations worldwide,” she explained.

To mark the launch, Ms Fernandez announced that Firefly is offering round-trip flights from Phuket to Penang for 3,560 baht, and further abroad to Melbourne, via a stopover in Kuala Lumpur, for 33,350 baht, all inclusive.

Customized packages to cater to wedding trips, adventure holidays and romantic getaways, for example, were also available through the options offered on Firefly’s website, she added.

From a Phuket perspective, the new packages are perfect for foreigners in Phuket looking for a getaway or needing to make a ‘visa run’ to Penang, where there is a Thai consulate.

Firefly has no immediate plans to expand services.

“We simply do not have any more aircraft… We have just completed Phase I of our expansion. We now have seven aircraft and all of them are fully utilized. We will embark on Phase II when the board of directors and the management of Malaysia Airlines plans to have new aircraft.”

Firefly currently serves directly eight destinations in Malysia and 10 regional destinations.

The new packages are also available through Firefly’s new mobile phone booking service, also launched on May 25.

People can now book from literally anywhere, anytime, said Ms Fernandez.

The facility accepts payment by credit card, allowing people to book and pay for tickets for others.

“Parents can now book and pay for tickets for, say, their children or their grandparents, or even as a gift for someone,” she said.

To mark this service, Firefly offered a limited number of promotional one-way tickets between Phuket and Penang for just RM1 (one ringgit, about 12 baht).

Firefly currently flies Phuket-Penang with FY3605 departing at 2:05pm Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, with return flight FY3604 departing Penang at 1:15pm on the same days. The flight takes 75 minutes

This journey was taken by my good friend, Dennis Chiang on 24 September 2009 to Penang. Dennis has started his passion in photography recently. Let’s see what he saw, taste and feel in Penang.

As you know, to get to Penang, you need to get on the ferry first!

These are how the cars parked in the ferry

The view on the ferry from Butterworth to Penang

Buddhas

The everly famous, Kek Lok Si Temple

View down from Kek Lok Si

Try some vegetarian food here at the temple

‘Ah Mah’ begging at the temple

Souvenirs anyone?

Khoo Kongsi- the largest clan comples in Malaysia and awe-inspiring for its architectural attributes and bas-relief sculptures. The movie Anna and the King actually took its scene here

CheongFatt Tze Mansion- It has 38 rooms, 5 courtyards, 7 staircases and 220 windows. This charming home was awarded by UNESCO for the restoration work done to preserve its heritage

Time to eat! A different way of eating rojak, like celup-celup. Only RM0.40 per sticks!

This is the very famous ‘Loh Mee’ in Butterworth and that’s the special vinegar which we can’t get it easily in Malaysia

The other everly famous, St. Anne’ church

Inside St.Anne

Old buildings

An old man cycling a trishaw, such hardworking life for these old people. Imagine us complaining when we have a car?

That’s more or less about Penang. Hurry up and experience Penang by yourself!

Thank you