Budget airline Air Asia has opened a new office on the beachfront in Patong.

It is the airline?s first office in the south, and only the third in Thailand.

The company presented the Patong Municipality with 700 branded brightly coloured beach umbrellas to help brighten up the beaches as an opening party present.

AirAsia CEO, Tassapon Bijleveld said the new office would help to promote Phuket as a central hub for the region, and would help the airline to reach further into the lucrative Chinese market.

?Phuket is a strategic location for Air Asia and we plan to put down roots and nurture the growth and development of our operations in southern Thailand,? he said.

?We have a strong commitment to Thailand?s tourism industry which has endless possibilities for holiday makers throughout Air Asia?s domestic and international network.?

Direct flights between Phuket and Hong Kong and other major Chinese cities are expected to begin within the next few months, and Air Asia is currently running a ?Patong special? promotion with flights from Phuket to Bangkok and Singapore for as little as 500 baht one way, and flights to Kuala Lumpur for only 250 baht.