Yvo and utiket

New low-cost airline weapon for Bangkok

17 Sep 2014 00:30:01

eturbonews.com

In early September, Don Mueang Airport suddenly took on the appearance of a fair. Balloons, giggling girls, the crippling flashlights of cameras. In the large departure hall of Bangkok's second airport, a line of pretty flight attendants were lining up to celebrate the arrival of Singaporean long-haul, low-cost carrier Scoot. Beyond the event of celebrating a new airline at the airport, Scoot transfer from Suvarnabhumi to Don Mueang Airport marked also the first step in the activation of a partnership between the Singaporean carrier and local airline Nok Air. After a decade in service, Nok Air is now a strong element of Thailand skies. The low-cost airline, an affiliate of Thai Airways International, is best known for its extensive domestic network. But according to Patee Sarasin, CEO of Nok Air, the carrier is now entering a new dimension.


"œWe are in the midst of a country with 65 million inhabitants with 25 million passengers flying domestic routes, while Nok alone carries 8 to 9 million passengers. There is definitely a potential for growth! We benefit again from a more favorable environment with political stability. We indeed start to see our traffic stabilizing. This is why we think again to expand," said Sarasin.


The carrier is flying currently to over 20 destinations within Thailand with new flights being added soon to Lampang in the north and soon to Surin in Isan. According to Sarasin, there is at least a potential of 5 additional secondary cities as well as the development of a second base in Chiang Mai.


Nok Air is also looking back to develop its international network. It tried in the past to open international destinations, but its international expansion faced many difficulties.


Read full story: eturbonews.com

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