Nok Air to Introduce Chiang Mai-Hat Yai Flights Next Year

24th Dec 2012

eginning January 1, 2013, the Thailand's longest domestic route will see another airline serving air travelers between the two cities. Nok Air has just disclosed to Bangkok Post that it will launch its once-daily Chiang Mai-Hat Yai route early next year.

The daily service is in direct competition with Thai AirAsia who has been flying between Chiang Mai, a major city in the north and Hat Yai, the largest city down south.

The Chaing Mai-Hat Yai route will be Nok Air's longest domestic flight with a travel time of a little over two hours. According to the airline official, the decision to mount a service in this route is the result of long-time planning and strategy ignoring routes which they consider over-crowded such as the Chiang Mai-Phuket route which is already served by Bangkok Airways and Thai AirAsia.

The daily service departs from Chiang Mai at 08:30 and arrives at Hat Yai at 1035. The return flight leaves at Hat Yai half an hour later or 1105, arriving at Chiang Mai at 1315. A combination of business and leisure travelers is expected to fly between the two cities.

With the recent delivery of its sixth Boeing 737-800 aircraft this year, Nok Air is planning to augment its frequencies to a total of 11 flights daily on major routes in its domestic network. Starting last December 1, it increased its Bangkok-Chiang Mai frequency from six to once daily. On January 1, next year, it will also increase its frequency from five to daily flight in its equally busy Bangkok-Hat Yai route.

Generally, Nok Air will boost its daily frequency from its Bangkok hub to most domestic destinations. To both Udon Thani and Nakhon Si Tammarat, frequency will increase from four to five; to Surat Thani and Ubon Ratchathani, up by one flight to four daily; and thrice daily to both Chiang Rai and Phuket from its twice daily service.

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