!
Latest updates
kiwi Guarantee Book now and get protection against cancelations that would wouldn't get if you booked direct
Chiang Mai's Food Odyssey: Street Eats to Gourmet Feasts
Bangkok Airways to Resurrect Vital Flight Routes to Northern Thailand
Thai Vietjet Air: Exclusive May Offers for FUN Rewards Members
Hua Hin Airport anticipates surge in international flights after expansion
No more flights to Mae Hong Son
Really Cool Airlines to launch in December (Really!)
6 Steps to Grabbing Cheap Flights - DomesticFlightsThailand
Getting Around Bangkok
Koh Lanta: A Hidden Treasure Near Krabi
Sea, Sand, and Surf in Thailand: Top 5 Spots
All news
More travel guides
Thai AirAsia Missing Growth Target
18th Aug 2014
The weakened demand during the first quarter of this year will certainly affect Thai AirAsia's growth target for this year.
The local subsidiary of the budget giant AirAsia Bhd. has put the blame on the political crisis that gripped the country for over 6 months, affecting the economy and most especially its tourism industry.
The airline has revised its fleet expansion as a result and will now take delivery of just five aircraft instead of eight. Consequently, its passenger target is also adjusted down from 13.3 to just 12.6 million for this year.
Based on the data available from the Tourism Authority of Thailand, the country's international visitors went down by 9.9% year-on-year to 11.8 million. During the height of the political crisis, 52 countries and territories barred their citizens to travel to Thailand.
Thai AirAsia took delivery of four A320s aircraft early this year and will soon take one more A320 before the end of this year to a total of 40 planes in its fleet. A320 is a family of medium-haul narrow-body aircraft that seats up to 180 passengers.
Tourism official disclosed that tourism industry in the country has seen signs of recovery already starting last July. He added that the country's tourism has been traditionally resilient and quickly recover only after a month or two.
The carrier needs to keep a load factor of 82% on average to grow its revenue.
It has just announced a route expansion with the addition of Sakon Nakhon to its network, linking it with Bangkok on October 1 this year.
Also on the network expansion plan are two more northeastern destinations, Buri Ram and Roi Et while a fourth frequency from Bangkok to Khon Kaen will commence next month.
This early, the budget carrier has already hinted that two more routes are in the pipeline, a domestic and a regional, to be launched before the year ends.
Related News
Thai Vietjet Air: Exclusive May Offers for FUN Rewards Members
Hua Hin Airport anticipates surge in international flights after expansion
