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NokScoot To Jump Start Operations
1st Aug 2014
The low-cost long-haul carrier has decided to acquire a license issued to Pete Air by the regulatory board, but has never been used as the airline never took off.
NokScoot is the offshoot of a joint venture between Thai budget carrier, Nok Air, and Singapore's low-cost airline, Scoot. It is designed to be a low-cost long-haul carrier that will fly to regional destinations across Asia.
In Thailand, it is legal to transfer an unused license to new airline applicant who doesn't want to go through the exhaustive process.
The budget carrier has already expressed interest to launch its commercial operations before the end of this year with the inaugural service to Japan. Though the airline didn't specify the route, it was widely believed that its maiden service will link Bangkok to Tokyo-Narita
NokScoot has confirmed that it will launch its inaugural service on September 1, or two months ahead of its original target date which was November. The new schedule has been decided to get ahead of its major rival, Thai AirAsia X, the long-haul arm of Thai AirAsia, which is expected to launch its maiden operations in October.
NokScoot launch date for its long-haul service to Tokyo-Narita will coincide with Thai AirAsia X's inaugural long-haul service to Osaka and Tokyo-Narita in Japan. Thai AirAsia X launched its inaugural long-haul operations to Seoul, South Korea on June 17.
The long-haul rivals will essentially compete for the same market with the simultaneous launching of their respective service to Japan.
NokScoot has already performed a test run for its wide-body long-haul aircraft B777-200 on the domestic route, Bangkok-Chiang Mai.
Nok Air, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Thai Airways International, owns 51% of the joint venture while Scoot holds the remaining 49% share.
The new carrier has already started to retrofit the B777 aircraft and reconfigure it to hold 415 seats. Additionally, the plane will sport a distinctive look in its livery to indicate the partnership between the two investors.
Initially, NokScoot will use a single aircraft for its maiden operations this year, but will add two more of same jetliner next year to support its route expansion. The plan was to take delivery of two aircraft each year as it expands its operations.
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