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Tehran, Muscat Possible New Destinations for Thai AirAsia X
9th May 2016
Thailand’s first long-haul LCC Thai AirAsia X (TAAX) could be expanding its international route network with services to Tehran and Muscat, sources familiar with the aviation industry claim.
According to reports, Thai AirAsia X will operate both destinations from Don Muang Airport in Bangkok and could schedule four flights per week from Bangkok to Tehran as well three flights a week from Bangkok to Muscat.
As a destination, the capital of Iran is the more exotic and probably more interesting to the low cost carrier, especially after the sanctions against Iran were lifted this year. It would offer a great prospect of bringing in more adventurous travelers from Thailand to TAAX.
On the other side, Muscat, Oman is not as exotic as Iran, but that is not to say that the Thai airline could not benefit from opening this route as well. With it TAAX would have a chance to carry more inbound travellers from Thailand to the Middle East.
Both of these destinations were on Thai AirAsia X’s radar since 1st October last year when the Bangkok to Shanghai service kicked off.
A Change of Focus for TAAX
This represents a shift in TAAX’ usual route planning which, for the last two years, focused mainly on China, Japan and South Korea. In addition, airline’s Chief Executive Officer Nadda Buranasiri also noted in January that Thai AirAsia X is interested in opening new routes to China and India. At the time, Mr Buranasiri expected a quick resolution of ICAO’s suspension, but the problem remained unresolved.
The International Civil Aviation Organization red-flagged Thailand due to numerous safety concerns. Although many of those are by now resolved, the suspension remains. For Thai-based carriers, this means they cannot open new routes or expand existing ones to other countries, or change the type of aircraft used on current routes.
However, ICAO leaves to individual countries to follow up on its ruling. While most countries accept ICAO’s suspension, Iran and Oman are among those that have a different view and are open to accepting Thai AirAsia X.
At the moment, Iran’s Mahan Airlines operate the route between Tehran and Bangkok, while Muscat-Bangkok is served by Oman flag carrier Oman Air. Opening the two new routes would allow Thai AirAsia X to better use its Airbus A330-300s, of which it has six in its fleet.
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