Thai Lion Air opens a historical flight between Medan and Hat Yai

MEDAN – Thai Lion Air is launching a three times weekly service today linking Medan with Hat Yai, one of the main gateways into southern Thailand. Hat Yai is also Thai Lion Air’s second major hub, which means that passengers from Medan can make convenient connections in Hat Yai to other destinations in Thailand using Thai Lion Air.
 

“Rather than travel to Jakarta and then fly to Bangkok, people from Medan can fly to Hat Yai and then connect to a flight to Bangkok,” says Thai Lion Air executive managing director,  Andi Burhan, adding that this is a faster, more convenient way to get to Bangkok.
 

Thai Lion Air’s Medan-Hat Yai service uses a new ATR 72-600 aircraft, while the Hat Yai-Bangkok service uses new Boeing 737-900ERs.  Thai Lion Air also has an ATR 72-600 passenger services from Hat Yai which now serves two new routes:  Surat Thani on the east coast of Southern Thailand, as well as Hua Hin, a popular upper class beachside city on the Gulf of Thailand.
 

In addition, Thai Lion Air is launching a three times weekly ATR 72-600 service on April 13 linking Hat Yai to Kuala Lumpur Subang in Malaysia. “The decision to launch services from Hat Yai to Medan and Subang airport in Kuala Lumpur is part of our commitment to help develop passenger services between ASEAN countries,” says Burhan.
 

He says they decided to launch the Medan-Hat Yai service, because they could see that passenger traffic between Indonesia and Thailand is growing. Thai Lion Air is currently the only airline to offer a non-stop passenger service between Medan and Hat Yai. “Besides offering air fares, we have put together some fantastic holiday package deals where people can get very competitive rates on hotel accommodation,” says Burhan. 
 

In financial year 2013, Hat Yai accommodated 2.47 million passengers, a number up by over 22%. Total passengers traffic on international routes remains however modest at only 227,000, in progression by 5%. New routes from Thai Lion Air will certainly help boosting international passengers’ flows. 
 

He also says the airline is committed to helping to develop new domestic routes in Thailand. “The response to the launch of the Hat Yai-Hua Hin and Hat Yai-Surat Thani has been encouraging. Because we are the first to serve these routes, we are helping to create new markets for air travel. These new markets will take time to develop,” he adds.
 

Burhan also says Thai Lion Air is very pleased with the results achieved so far with its Bangkok Don Mueang – Chiang Mai and Bangkok Don Mueang – Hat Yai service. “We launched the Bangkok- Hat Yai service last month. We have five return flights per day on the route and plan to increase the frequency to six times a day in late April,” he adds.
 

Thai Lion Air operates a fleet of four 737-900ERs and one ATR 72-600. By year end it aims to increase its 737-900ER fleet to eight.