He explained that the 260km journey between the two can be done in three hours in light traffic while intercity buses only take five hours. Once the new speed rail connects the two, travel time will be reduced to less than 90 minutes.
Mr Pootrakool also noted that flying meant passengers had to check in and go through security checkpoints beforehand and then wait for their luggage at the other end end. The final reason only one commercial airline had ever launched Nakhon Ratchasima flights was the latter’s airport was a long way out of town.
Prawat Duangkanya is the director of Nakhon Ratchasima Airport and he also said he agrees that flights from Bangkok would be a waste of time. He added that it would be more logical to connect to locations such as Chiang Mai or Phuket as they are farther afield.
12GO ASIA is a leading source of tickets for domestic travel in Thailand as well as to neighbouring ASEAN countries. We offer bus and train reservations to Nakhon Ratchasima. If flight services ever got off the ground we would probably add these too.
Green light for Thailand high speed trains scuppers air link plans
News in Asia
The Thai government’s green light for hi-speed Bangkok to Nakhon Ratchasima trains has ended all discussions on air links between the two locations. Prime-minister's office representative Kobsak Pootrakool said the two cities are too close together to make launching an air link viable.