Bangkok Airways outlines expansion

Bangkok Airways will continue to increase frequency on existing routes, while expanding its network through code-share opportunities.

The airline will attend ITB to promote its network and additional service due to start with the summer timetable in late March.

The airline continues to grow its network. Last year it added three destinations in South Asia — Mumbai, Bangalore and Dhaka. Meanwhile, this year, it will start a Samui-Kuala Lumpur route and a nonstop Bangkok-Lampang service. Apart from this, it will increase flights on trunk routes and work on code-shares with new partners to feed traffic to its domestic network.

Bangkok Airways president, Puttipong Prasarttong-Osoth said: “We are very active this year. Our priority is to add frequency on many of our domestic and international routes that show high demand.

“We are working with more airlines to code-share and strengthen Bangkok Airways’ network. However, we will have to adapt our strategies to the global economic situation and fuel prices.”

The airline reported recently a Bt1.22 billion profit, soaring 56.7% from Bt778 million in 2010. The carrier carried 3,089,088 passengers, a 16.5% increase over 2,651,323 in 2010.

“Thailand’s tourism this year seems promising as long as the political scene is stable. We can get back on our feet fairly quickly after a crisis and Thailand is a destination that remains popular. We are confident we can grow business in 2012,” said Mr Puttipong.

From 25 March, Bangkok Airways will add an extra flight from Bangkok to Chiang Mai and Phuket increasing to six and seven daily flights. Also on the same day, it will commence five weekly flights between Bangkok and Lampang in additional to the daily service via Sukhothai.

From 31 March, it will commence a regional daily service from Samui to Kuala Lumper and increase the Samui-Hong Kong service from daily to 10 flights a week.

On code-shares, the carrier said it was working closely with Malaysian Airlines and hopes to launch code-share flights for the summer schedule.

In January, the carrier launched code-share flights with Finnair. Other code-share partners include Thai Airways International, Etihad Airways, KLM, Air France, EVA Air, Air Berlin and Silk Air.

Regarding routes to South Asia that were introduced last year, Mr Puttipong said passenger uplift to and from Mumbai, Bangalore and Dhaka had improved steadily.

“We are looking at Delhi once we gain traffic rights from the authorities. This could happen in time for the winter schedule 2013 when new planes join the fleet.”

The airline has no plan to resume flights to China, Japan and Vietnam after it suspended services three years ago.

This year it will receive one A319 in March and two A320s – one in October and another in December.

Source - ttrweekly