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Bangkok Airways to Add Two New Routes
15th Jan 2013
Bangkok Airways is adding two new routes as part of its expansion plans this year. The airline will soon launch direct services to Mandalay and Krabi.
According to airline executives, the carrier will launch its Bangkok-Krabi service on April this year beginning with twice daily flights. It will also commence its 4 flights a week Bangkok-Mandalay service in September.
The airline has chosen these new routes because they are a growing market. Thai AirAsia is already serving these two promising markets.
Bangkok Airways is also planning to mount more flights this year out of Koh Samui, its second hub. However, the plan is dependent on the regulatory restrictions currently imposed by environmental authorities on commercial airlines flying to the airport.
The airline is seeking approval from the regulatory body to allow them to increase flights to the popular tourist town from 38 to 50 flights per day.
Though the airport is owned and operated by Bangkok Airways, the airport is only limited to operate from 6 am up to 10 pm. The airline seeks to augment its number of flights and wants the airport's operating hours be extended up to 11 pm.
Airline executives disclosed that of the 38 flights permitted to Koh Samui, 31 of these are operated by Bangkok Airways while SilkAir, Firefly and Thai Airways operate the rest.
Bangkok Airways wants to introduce more international flights to the resort island. Thus, approval from the authorities is crucial to its expansion plans.
The carrier has its sights on Taipei and Shanghai as possible destinations in the near future from its Koh Samui hub following Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore.
The diversification of their international markets is what the airline wants to realize in a long term.
The airline derives most of its income from airport operation in Koh Samui and all its flights. This year marks the 45th anniversary for the airline.
The growing demand of air travelers to and from Koh Samui is said to be disproportionate to the number of available flights allowed in the airport.
Another are of growth in Bangkok Airways' network is its Bangkok-Male route which will be increased to five times per week from its present four. At the same time, it will increase its once daily BangkokLuang Prabang flight to two.
Other busy routes that the airline wants to increase frequencies are Koh-Samui and Bangkok-Chiang Mai to six times daily each, and its Koh Samui-Chiang Mai up to seven daily.
The airline will soon take delivery of two new Airbus aircraft, a A319 and A320, which will be used in these new routes and the additional frequencies.
Currently, the airline has a total fleet of 21 aircraft - eight A319s, five A320s and 8 ATR-72 turboprops. It flies to 20 local and international destinations.
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