Low cost carrier Nok Air is adding more frequencies to secondary destinations within Thailand. And still look at finalizing its future international timetable…
BANGKOK- Thai Airways low cost subsidiary Nok Air, will increase the number of its flights out of Bangkok Don Mueang Airport from March 1st. The carrier will double the total number of its frequencies to both Chumphon (Southern Thailand) and Mae Sot (Northwestern Thailand).
From 1 March 2013 onwards, Nok Air will serve 4 daily flights from Bangkok to Mae Sot (increase from 2 flights daily) and 2 daily flights from Bangkok to Chumphon (increase from daily flight). Those new flights are subject to a promotion fare from THB 1,111 Baht for the Mae Sot route and THB 1,590 for the Chumphon route. Flights are served by small aircraft such as the SAAB 340 or the ATR 72.
However, Nok Air’s most expected move is the reopening of international flights out of Don Mueang airport. The carrier already announced a few weeks ago to fly again to Vietnam and launching flights to China and Myanmar, starting in the middle of this year. The airline made last year a profit of US$ 16 million and is planning to sell a 30 percent stake in the company and use the money to buy Boeing 737-8 or 737 Max planes.
Nok Air used to fly in 2007 to some international destinations, albeit for a brief time. It has already in its timetable a few international destinations such as Vientiane in Laos and Penang in Malaysia, both served through its “fly and drive” product. Passengers using the service will fly domestically with Nok Air to Udon Thani and then transfer to a shuttle bus to Vientiane. The flight to Penang is done via Hat Yai followed by a shuttle bus to the city centre of Georgetown.
While the Udon Thani/Vientiane route is covered in just 90 minutes (including relatively smooth border formalities), the route to Penang is turning more complicated.
Out of Hat Yai airport, passengers must first transfer to another bus in town before been driven to Penang. With many stops en routes, the trip out of Hat Yai takes generally over four hours. However the Penang-Hat Yai return takes only three hours to complete. But it still can be a cheaper alternative to a direct Penang flight, often fully booked out of Thailand.
Luc Citrinot a French national is a freelance journalist and consultant in tourism and air transport with over 20 years experience. Based in Paris and Bangkok, he works for various travel and air transport trade publications in Europe and Asia.
