From a Thai-Indian film production to a mental health app.
By Mahmood Hossain
AIRASIA RESTARTING DIRECT FLIGHTS TO AMRITSAR
On 3 September, AirAsia X expanded its medium-haul network by renewing their route to Amritsar from Kuala Lumpur, bridging the North Indian city to Bangkok, Bali, Perth, Melbourne, and more through their Fly-Thru service. The efforts are focused on strengthening AirAsia X’s position in South Asia, not only to enhance the company’s medium-haul destinations but to also offer the best value fares to accelerate business growth. As the second destination to India after New Delhi, this route will deliver an additional annual capacity of 157,263 seats between KL and Amritsar.
AMAZON PRIME VIDEO LAUNCHES FIRST THAI-INDIAN PRODUCTION
Amazon Prime Video Thailand’s latest campaign, Unbox Thai Entertainment, has invested in local talents and projects on its streaming platform, spanning 13 different titles. Most noticeable is Congrats My Ex! – a story of a Thai wedding planner who reluctantly takes on her desi ex-boyfriend as a client for his big, fat, Indian wedding, while asking for assistance from another ex-boyfriend in order to save her business from bankruptcy. With a Thai-Indian cast, the film follows the main character’s journey of juggling her professional responsibilities and the roller coaster of emotions with her exes. The film will start streaming on Amazon Prime Video on 23 November 2023.
AIR INDIA AND BANGKOK AIRWAYS LAUNCH INTERLINE PARTNERSHIP
In September, Air India announced that they had entered an interline partnership with Bangkok Airways, allowing the Tata Group-owned airline to connect with 10 Southeast Asian destinations beyond the Thai capital. The initiative enables Air India passengers to reach Chiang Mai, Lampang, Sukhothai, Trat, Koh Samui, Phuket, and Krabi through Bangkok Airways’ connecting flights. According to Air India, guests booking the connecting flights will receive complimentary access to Bangkok Airways’ boutique lounges and courtesy corners at available airports, irrespective of the class of travel.
SATI WINS 2 MILLION BAHT GRANT
Led by Thai-Indian founder Amornthep Sachamuneewongse, the peer-to-peer support app, Sati, which trains volunteers with basic psychological first aid, was recently recognised for its potential and awarded a THB 2 million grant by USA-based non-profit organisation, Student With Psychosis. With mental healthcare as the top priority, Sati positions itself as a provider of “on-demand listening” peer support to anyone experiencing distress and in need of assistance. The app aims to overcome mental health challenges in Thailand by utilising The World Health Organisation’s optimal mix of services as a guide to identify the optimum solution for given circumstances. Sati continues to collaborate with the government and the private sector to ensure mental health services are readily available at no cost.
