NokScoot Goes Short Haul To Cap Losses

8th May 2015

NokScoot finds solace in short-haul flights as it attempts to mitigate losses from flight bans implemented by South Korea and Japan on selected Thai Airlines.

The airline has since been conducting medium to long-haul flights but now it is changing course and is set to take on the short-haul Bangkok-Singapore flight route. Short-haul flights will commence towards the end of this month.

Based on NokScoot's flight schedule, short-haul flights over these two areas will commence on May 20. So far, this route is the only one confirmed to take place under its wing.

Earlier, NokScoot had planned to take on another short-haul flight between Bangkok and Nanjing but this failed to materialize as the airline had problems with China regarding issuance of permits.

The airline planned to expand its charter flights to two countries specifically Japan and South Korea. But this was curtailed when the International Civil Aviation Office (ICAO) issued a report on the failings of some Thai airlines and the Thai government as regards air safety.

This has prompted countries like Japan and South Korea to restrict a number of Thai air carrier flights to and from their respective countries.

China eventually made the same decision and went on to ban charter flights identified with Thai airlines.

The airline's Boeing 777-200 jets are idle most of the time. For as long as operations remain on a standstill because of the bans, the airline stands to lose some 2 million baht daily, according to some sources.

Initiating the Bangkok-Singapore flight route will help mitigate said losses. A member of the company's board of trustees disclosed that the company has already obtained the appropriate permits and is thus authorized to proceed with daily flights from Bangkok to Singapore.

The said official likewise revealed that this particular flight will continue on a daily basis and will not be curtailed once the airline's cash flow has stabilised.

According to the company, this particular route is feasible though many are already operating within this area. Cathay Pacific, Singapore Airlines, Tiger Airways, Thai AirAsia are just 4 of the 7 airline companies already plying this route.

Nevertheless, NokScoot remains positive that the company's plans for growth and expansion may be realized soon enough especially if it is able to take on regular flight routes to Japan and South Korea.

NokScoot hopes that once Thai authorities have submitted their action plans and gain the ICAO's approval, the issues which put a heavy dent on Thai airlines shall by then be put to rest.

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