Kan Air Geared Up For Expansion

16th Mar 2015

Kan Air is gearing up for a major own generated expansion after breaking away from its longtime partner Thai VietJet Air (TVJA).

The privately owned airline has two major strategies to see out its expansion; first put up a brand new network to start planned flights from its alternative base of U-tapao, and secondly, to add a couple more ATR 72-500 turbo corp airplanes to its fleet number.

Kan has plans to open up a few routes to the ones it already operates in.

This month alone, the airline is planning to open four new routes from their navy-operated airport of U-tapao located in Rayong province. These routes include, Chiang Mai, Ubon Ratchathani, Khon Kaen and Udon Thani.

According to Somphong Sooksanguan, the airline is also planning to operate in three more routes of Surat Thani, Phuket, and Hat Yai.

Prior to the break up with the longtime partner TVJA, Somphong owned 51% shares of all the company's shares. But last month the airline's president announced the breakaway. This withdrawal has enabled them see out a few of the strategies they have to expand on their own.

Somphong attributes the break-up from TVJA to the differences in management. He says he had different ideas from those share by their old partner. This not only motivated him to break away but also form an airline that operated in the direction he wanted.

As a matter of fact, Kan airlines has been operating from long ago at Chang Mai airport on routes that the dominated solely.

Kan airlines operated from routes such as Ubon Rachathani and Hua Hin. With the new move, the company is now operating from 10 different destinations around the northern capital.

Before December 2013, Kan airline was operating only 2 small jets-a Hawker Beechcraft Premier I, which was a 6-seat jet, and a one-engine Cessna Grand Caravan 208B propeller airplane that had 12 seats.

According to Mr Somphong, Kan airlines' aim was to tap into the rich market potential of Rayong and Pattaya and expand it into other parts of Thailand. This was great in doing away with the need for people to use both the Don Mueang and Suvarnabhumi airports.

Mr Somphong has been quoted saying that their main aim is to come up with their own market and do away with competition from other airlines.

Kan plans to alternate operation flights from U-tapao and have flat fare rates of 990 baht one-way travelling and have a free bus from Pattaya.

The airline is expected to have a large number of passengers-up to 400,000 in 2015 only.

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