The regional airline, owned by Malaysia Airlines, is set to expand its existing coverage of the route, from four weekly flights to a daily service, connecting Penang in Malaysia to Phuket in Thailand. The new schedule will commence on 25th March and is expected to run until the end of the summer season on 31st October.
Daily flights will now depart from Penang at 1405. The route, which takes one hour and 15 minutes, is serviced by ATR 72 aircraft, each with a 70-seat capacity. Firefly is currently quoting a one-way fare of MYR299 for flights scheduled in early April. The existing service is already popular with expatriates based on Phuket island, particularly due to their need to renew visa documents at the Thai consulate in Penang. The additional flights have been added to meet the seasonal demand from conventional tourists for more seats on this route.
From its hub in Penang, Firefly operates two international routes to three locations; to Banda Aceh in Indonesia and Phuket and Krabi in Thailand, whilst also serving domestic routes to Langkawi and Kota Bharu in Malaysia. Firefly has been operating since 2007 and is considered to be Malaysia’s first community airline.
