The service will feature two flights a week and aims to attract both business travellers and tourists.

The new service is a part of THAI's long-haul business strategy, following its recent opening of direct flights to New York, Moscow and Los Angeles.

The airline's vice president for commercial operations, Vasing Kittikul, said the new route would be the first direct service from Thailand to South Africa . It will be flown by Boeing 777-200 aircraft, taking about 10 hours.

Several leading Asian airlines already fly to Johannesburg, including Singapore Airlines, Malaysian Airlines and Cathay Pacific. However, passengers travelling from Bangkok to Johannesburg need to fly first to Hong Kong, Singapore , the Middle East or European countries.

Of these routes, the shortest flight is Bangkok-Singapore-Johannesburg, flown by Singapore Airlines.

It takes at least 15 hours, including two hours for the Singapore stop-over.

Vasing said THAI expected to attract travellers to Johannesburg from Hong Kong, Taiwan and Indo-China as well as from Thailand. On return journeys, THAI will serve travellers from South Africa and its neighbouring countries visiting destinations in Asia.

He said the number of travellers between Thailand and South Africa had gradually increased. Thailand is now one of the most popular destinations for South Africans, while many Asian tourists are eager to visit South Africa, and particularly its cities of Cape Town and Johannesburg.

South Africa has recently completed the construction of a national convention centre in Cape Town, which is expected to attract more corporate travellers. The country will also host the World Cup in 2010, and it is currently promoting eco-tourism to safari parks and vineyards.

South Africa had 1.6 million tourists last year, most of them from European countries, particularly Germany and the UK.

Vasing said THAI was also considering direct services from Bangkok to Berlin and to Manchester in the UK and could add more flights to its existing direct services between Bangkok and Sandai in Japan, London and Paris.

Suchat Sritama

The Nation

JOHANNESBURG