The Thai charter airline, Phuket Air, is to begin thrice-weekly Boeing 757 flights on the Bangkok-Kathmandu-Dubai route from next month. The airline reportedly has fifth-freedom rights between Kathmandu and Dubai, and this is expected to provide a choice to passengers who now have to rely only on Royal Nepal Airlines on that direct route. The Phuket Air flight is also expected to allow Gulf-based tourists to combine their Thai and Nepal holidays.