News
Thai LCCs boost their networks
April 1st 2016
Thai Lion Air, the Thai division of Indonesia’s fast-growing Lion Group, plans to take delivery of five new B737-800s and -900ERs this year, joining its current fleet counting 19 Boeing narrowbodies. Read More » With the arrival of the aircraft, Thai Lion says it will add new destinations in China, Myanmar and Vietnam, as well as increase frequency on existing domestic and regional routes. Specifically, Thai Lion CEO, Aswin Yangkirativorn, told the Bangkok Post he expects the carrier will launch a Don Mueang-Yangon service in May, and flights to both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh from the third-quarter. Aswin also mooted plans for regular schedules to Beijing, from both Don Mueang and Chiang Mai.
Meanwhile, the Thai Lion chief said he would like to also launch a Don Mueang-Fukuoka service, but he reckoned this would not be possible until Japanese aviation authorities lifted sanctions against Thai-registered carriers imposed after the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) last year found serious safety concerns at Thailand’s regulator, the now-defunct Department of Civil Aviation (DCA).
Japan is one of a small number of nations that have strictly complied with the ICAO restrictions. The Mainland has not, and as such dozens of new Thailand-China routes have been opened since the fateful ICAO verdict.
Thai AirAsia on February 1 launched a new Phuket-Wuhan route, and plans a Don Mueang-Shantou rotation from May 27. The carrier led by Tassapon Bijleveld now offers 25 flights between Thailand and China, more than any other carrier.
China is Thailand’s largest inbound tourism market, with 7.9 million visitors in 2015, or 27% of overall international arrivals.
