Qantas has announced a new codeshare agreement with Bangkok Airways which will significantly improve travel options for Qantas customers travelling across south-east Asia.

From March 30th, Qantas customers will be able to book on Bangkok Airways services from Bangkok and Singapore to six new destinations in Thailand, including Ko Samui, Chiang Mai and Phuket.

Qantas International chief executive Simon Hickey said the agreement was another step forward in delivering on the airline’s strategy to offer the best options for customers travelling between Australia and Asia.

“This partnership is great news for our customers travelling to resort destinations in Thailand.

“The new codeshare services will allow customers to connect to their holiday destination via Bangkok or Singapore, with more opportunities to earn frequent flyer points and have their luggage checked straight through to their final destination,” said Hickey.

Qantas and Bangkok Airways are working towards a reciprocal agreement which will enable Bangkok Airways customers to book on Qantas international services from Bangkok and Singapore to Australia, and on a number of routes on Qantas’ domestic network.

The announcement follows other recent initiatives to boost the strength of Qantas’ offering into Asia, including a new codeshare with China Southern, new premium lounges in Singapore (April 2013) and Hong Kong (March 2014) and a major upgrade of the airline’s A330 fleet starting from end-2014.