Nok off to India and Macau
Budget airline Nok Air plans to launch new services to Macau and India in the second half of the year, the first overseas venture for the airline. Patee Sarasin, chief executive, said yesterday that the airline would service the two countries after seeing a greater opportunity with air travellers from Thailand, as well as inbound tourists.
Macau is known as the Las Vegas of Asia, and could attract Thai tourists and punters, Patee said. But the route is crowded. Two other budget airlines – Air Macau and Air Asia – already service the Bangkok-Macau route.
India, meanwhile, has become a new destination for both tourists and business people. It takes about three hours to fly from Bangkok to Macau or India.
“We are studying details about frequencies and operations,” said Patee.
The budget airline, a subsidiary of the national carrier Thai Airways International, was established in 2003.
It also plans to buy three more aircraft this year, bringing its fleet to seven jets.
The company posted an Bt80-million profit last year and expects its income to grow 20 per cent this year.
Nok Air and Thai Airways yesterday announced an “exploratory collaboration” on the Bangkok-Chiang Mai route, starting February 13.
In the agreement, Thai Airways will give 10 seats on each flight to Chiang Mai to Nok Air passengers. However, Thai Airways’ customers can’t travel with Nok Air.
Thai Airways flies 10 times a day from Bangkok to Chiang Mai, while Nok Air operates four flights.
“Nok Air passengers who travel with Thai Airways will receive full services, the same as other passengers, but when travelling with Nok Air there will be no frills, the same as all Nok Air passengers experience,” Patee said.
He said the ticket price on Nok Air is a little lower than the price of Thai Airways’ economy class. The two airlines are also exploring a similar collaboration on the Bangkok- Nakhon Si Thammarat route.
Suchat Sritama
The Nation
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