Taiwanese carrier EVA Air and Thailand’s national carrier Thai Airways have enterered into codeshare partnership, and would start operating flights services between Bangkok and Taoyuan effective from October 30, 2016. EVA Air hopes to attract Thai travelers visiting Taiwan in a big way and benefit from the current ongoing visa-waiver program being offered to them.
Douglas Li, Executive Vice President of EVA Air’s Passenger Division, said, “Ever since the visa-waiver program for Thai nationals have come into effect from August 1 this year, the number of visitors from the country has significantly increased by nearly 20 percent, including both independent travelers and tourists.” Li also said that EVA Air is looking forward to hugely benefit from the codeshare partnership with Thai Airways, and would be able to attract Thai passengers to fly with the airline en route to North America.
It may be known that Thai nationals have been offered a visa-waiver program which would enable them to visit Taiwan without requiring a visa for gaining entry into the country. The program is currently under a trial of one year, and has been a part of new “southbound policy” by Taiwanese government aimed at strengthening Taiwan’s relations with Southeast Asian countries.
Chetseni Dhanarajata, General Manager of Thai Airways' Taiwan office, said, “It is hoped that the codeshare partnership would see nearly 10 percent growth in the number of Thai travelers flying with EVA Air to North America. Also, ever since the visa-waiver program took effect, the market is in the upward trend resulting in the increase of Thai visitors to Taiwan. This is indeed a positive development. We are quite optimistic that the future travel prospects are absolutely bright with citizens of either country utilizing both EVA Air and Thai Airways for flights to the United States.”
EVA Air is presently operating 27 weekly flights on Taoyuan-Bangkok route, while Thai Airways is also offering 14 weekly flights on the same route. Thai Airways is planning to have at least half of its weekly flights services to be operated through codeshare partnership with EVA Air, thus bringing the total number of weekly flights services to 34 on Taoyuan-Bangkok route.
PASSPORT & VISA PROCESSING