Nok Air adds more small cities to plan
Published: 29/03/2011 at 12:00 AM
Nok Air has begun aggressive moves to expand its domestic network to cover smaller cities with an expanding fleet of turboprop aircraft.
The budget airline will launch four new routes next month while nearing the close of a deal to lease four ATR 72-500 turboprops from the Denmark-based Nordic Aviation Capital (NAC), the world's largest lessor of turboprop aircraft.
The four new routes will be from the airline's hub at Don Mueang airport to Nan, Roi Et, Loei and Mae Sot, thereby raising the number of destinations served to 17 - all domestic.
Plans are afoot for Nok Air to introduce an additional route, from Bangkok to Phrae, on May 1.
The carrier will further expand its secondary route network by adding more small cities later this year when it begins to take delivery of the four ATR72-500s from NAC.
Chief executive Patee Sarasin said the expansion of secondary routes is part of a strategy aimed at consolidating its network to cash in on emerging traffic potential in these areas.
Daily service to Nan will commence on Friday, while flights to Roi Et, also daily, begins next Monday.
Thrice-a-week Bangkok-Loei flights will begin on April 8, while the Bangkok-Mae Sot route, at four flights a week, is set to start on April 9.
The new routes are made possible by the capacity rendered by two Saab 340B turboprops, each with 34 seats. Nok Air recently chartered the aircraft from Nok Mini, a commuter airline with separate ownership that exploits co-branding benefits.
Nok Mini is owned by Siam General Aviation Co, which operates flights from its Chiang Mai hub to Nan and Udon Thani using Saab 340Bs.
The chartered aircraft will provide added interim capacity to Nok Air, whose two current ATR 72-200s, leased from Thai Airways International (THAI), are already fully used on four existing routes - from Bangkok to Sakon Nakhon, Buri Ram and Nakhon Phanom; and from Chiang Mai to Mae Hong Son.
Mr Patee said Nok Air will conclude a five-year lease for the four ATR 72-500s, now being operated domestically in China, with NAC in the next few weeks.
Delivery of the aircraft, each containing about 70 seats, to Nok Air is projected for September or October.
The airline opted to lease the ATR 72-500s from NAC after finding the purchase of new aircraft made in France - an option recently explored - was cost prohibitive.
For now, the airline will retain the two ATR 72-200s leased from THAI and likely retain the services of Nok Mini's Saab 340Bs at least until later this year.
Discussions are being held for Nok Air to lease seven Boeing B737-800s, the newer, more advanced and more capable 737 jets, in its fleet in stages starting next year as part of a conversion programme to phase out its classic 737-400s, now numbering 10 in the fleet.
Meanwhile, Mr Patee said advance bookings on the four new routes have been relatively robust.
The airline has recorded a strong load factor so far this year throughout its system, with a high of 89%, he added.
Credit: Bangkok Post (www.bangkokpost.com)
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