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Happy Air Not Happy With Nok Air
24th Apr 2013
Happy days are over for Happy Air.
With the entry of Nok Air to Ranong, Happy Air's monopolistic service between the border town and Bangkok is finally broken.
Ranong is a border town located along the estuary of Pak Chan River facing Andaman Sea to the west near its border with Myanmar. It is famous for numerous hot springs and dense tropical rainforest.
By May 15, 2013, the Bangkok-based budget airline will commence a once-daily flight to Ranong from Bangkok using a twin-engine turboprop SAAB 340B that seats 34 passengers. The service will be operated by Nok Mini, a commuter sister airline.
Depending on the market demand, it will pursue its expansion plan to add another frequency by October 1, making it a twice-daily affair.
Thai AirAsia used to serve the Bangkok-Ranong route but ceased its direct service five years ago when they found the route unsustainable using the medium-range 148-seat B737 jet.
Nok Air already launched a new service between Bangkok and Chumphon in October last year using the same aircraft it will use on its Ranong service to sustain its business on the said route.
The low-cost airline offers introductory all-inclusive one-way tickets of Bt1,690 as against Happy Air's own regular offer of Bt2,500. Happy Air is also using the same SAAB 340 turboprop on the Bangkok-Ranong once-daily service.
Ranong draws mostly leisure travelers for its natural tourist attractions such as the Namtok Ngao National Park and Koh Chang. Ranong is also a jump-off point to high-rollers who are trying their luck at the sole casino resort located in nearby Victoria Point across the border with Myanmar.
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