Bangkok Air expands codeshares

01 Mar 2017 2050 | Business & Trade Fairs

BANGKOK Bangkok Airways will sign codeshare agreements with another four Asian carriers, this year, following a recent accord with China’s Xiamen Airlines.

Adding more codeshare agreements was highlighted in the airline’s ‘business outlook and direction’ section of the airline’s financial report for 2016 that was made public mid-February.

Codeshare agreements play an integral part in the airline’s long-term marketing strategy to the extent the airline has accumulated partnerships with 22 airlines worldwide that feed considerable traffic to the PG network across Asia.

This year the airline reports it will take deliver of five more aircraft, including two ATR72-600’s, and three Airbus A319’s which will give it a fleet of 39 aircraft by the end of 2017.

Bangkok Airways will continue to focus on expanding its route network to top destinations in Asia through three operational hubs; Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi), Samui and Chiang Mai.

From these airports it will offer new nonstop services to some high potential destinations in Asia.

Out of Chiang Mai flights are planned to Vientiane (Lao PDR) and Bagan (Myanmar). From the Bangkok hub a service to Phu Quoc island in Vietnam is under consideration along with a new domestic flight to Nakhon Ratchasima. Approvals are required to start these flights.

Last January, the airline launched a nonstop service between Samui and Guangzhou (China.)

Domestic routes will see increases in frequencies. Flight increase from one to two daily are are planned for: Chiang Mai-Samui; Chiang Mai-Phuket; Chiang Mai-Mae Hong Son.

On the Bangkok-Chiang Mai route flights will increase from eight to nine flights daily, Phuket-Bangkok from nine to 10 flights daily, Bangkok-Danang from four flights weekly to daily, Bangkok-Vientiane (Lao PDR) from one to two flights daily and Chiang Mai-Mandalay (Myanmar) from six weekly to daily.

Bangkok Airways PCL president Puttipong Prasarttong-Osoth presented the 2016 operating results and the business outlook for 2017, earlier this month.