Nok speeds up additions of seven 737s
Credit: Bangkok Post (www.bangkokpost.com)
The budget carrier Nok Air is hastening its fleet renewal programme with seven Boeing 737-800 planes to be acquired about two years ahead of an earlier planned schedule.
The B737-800 above formerly served Nok Air and was leased from the British charter carrier XL Airways.
The board earlier this month approved the deployment of the new Boeing models that will be the largest, more advanced and most capable aircraft in the fleet.
It also approved the acquisition of four more ATR-72 turboprops to meet improving travel demand.
The acquisitions are in addition to an earlier phase approved by the board in August for four B737-400s.
The acquisition of the four ATR-72s is consistent with the original schedule of 2011 and 2012, but the start of deliveries of the B737-800s was shifted from the end of next year to the second quarter 2011, or sooner.
Nok Air also increased the number of B737-800s to seven from six envisaged earlier as it is optimistic about rising traffic demand and keen to upgrade its older fleet with more fuel-efficient and modern planes, said chief executive Patee Sarasin.
The carrier currently operates seven B737-400s and two ATR-72s for its all-domestic services.
Nok Air wants to return four of the existing B737-400s leased from Thai Airways International, aged nearly 20 years, to its parent beginning early next year, subject to approval from THAI.
The three other existing B737-400s have been leased from international leasing companies.
Nok Air is in talks with several leasing firms for the fleet of seven B737-800s, with an average age of 8-9 years and configured with 189 seats in one class (economy), for delivery in stages between 2011 and 2012.
Meanwhile, three of the four B737-400s being leased under the August approval are due to enter services on an interim basis within the next month.
Nok Air has also opted to maintain its two existing ATR-72s, leased from THAI, to support its plan to expand its secondary and inter-provincial network.
More French-made ATR-72s would be instrumental to launching flights to Nan, Phrae, Lampang, Roi Et, Chumphon and Ranong, according to Mr Patee.
Credit: Bangkok Post (www.bangkokpost.com)
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