Koh Samui Welcomes First Chengdu Flight in Three Years

In early March 2023, Koh Samui Airport in Surat Thani province, Thailand, welcomed its first flight from Chengdu, China, in more than three years. Chengdu Airlines flight EU2807 landed on a Sunday with 130 Chinese tourists on board, the first such arrival since the route was suspended at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.

A Water Salute and Garlands on Arrival

The airport organised a special welcome ceremony for the flight. Fire engines sprayed water over the aircraft in the shape of an arch, in accordance with international standards.

Officials attending the event, including local authorities and tourism representatives, presented the arriving tourists with garlands and souvenirs as they stepped off the plane.

Chengdu Airlines Resumes Its Samui Route

The flight marked the resumption of Chengdu Airlines' service to Koh Samui, which had been suspended in February 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The route was to be operated by an Airbus A319 once a week, on Sundays, with a capacity of 140 passengers.

Chengdu Airlines planned to increase the frequency to three flights per week in May 2023, depending on demand.

The return of Chinese tourists was expected to give a significant boost to the island's economy. In 2019, before the pandemic, 308,303 Chinese tourists visited Koh Samui and generated 14 billion baht for the local economy.

More Flights Between China and Thailand

After China opened its borders in January 2023, airlines were eager to launch new routes, or resume old ones, to various Chinese destinations. Thai Airways, Thailand's flag carrier, expanded into five Chinese cities, and several other airlines launched direct flights between Phuket and Chinese cities.

Hainan Airlines also resumed services between Bangkok and Hainan, which is often referred to as "the Hawaii of China". Together, these developments pointed to growing connectivity between China and popular tourist destinations in Thailand.

For travellers arriving on the island, Luxy Samui offers a wide choice of villas for rent in Koh Samui, from family-friendly homes to villas with a sea view.