The two are working with consultants who are high-level players in aviation. They are Vasing Kittikul, former senior executive vice president of Thai Airways International (THAI); Chaisak Angkasuwan, director-general of the Civil Aviation Department; and Kajit Habanananda, chairman of the Thailand Exhibition and Convention Bureau and head of flight operations for THAI.

A Chiang Mai tourism source said the airline was expected to be set up very soon and begin operating within a few months.

The source said the new airline would be positioned somewhere between a general commercial airline and a low-cost tourist carrier.

The source declined to give details about operating plans or registered capital, but Thai investment law stipulates a minimum of Bt200 million in registered capital is needed to set up an airline. The source said Chiang Mai Airways would focus on routes between northern Thailand and southern China.

Chiang Mai's popularity as a tourist destination has grown in recent years. The city features natural beauty and Lanna heritage.

It is the de facto regional capital, linking surrounding tourist draws like Mae Hong Son, Chiang Rai and Lampang.

The province receives 3.6 million domestic and foreign tourists a year, an average of 300,000 a month. These numbers are expected to increase once the province and private operators join forces to promote it abroad. The team already plans road shows in the Middle East and China, hoping to attract more tourists during the low season.

Suchat Sritama

The Nation

Chiang Mai