Myanmar will be the first country abroad that Nok Air will serve starting from September. The airline will be the second one to offer flights to Yangon out of Don Mueang Airport in Bangkok.
BANGKOK- Nok Air, a low cost carrier partially owned by Thai Airways, has earned its reputation as an efficient good carrier serving however only domestic routes out of Bangkok and Chiang Mai. The airline attempted to fly internationally a couple of years ago with a daily frequency to Hanoi, Vietnam but it closed down the route just after a few months as it felt the market was not ready. Over the last five years, Nok Air has then concentrated on secondary cities building flight capacity by opening new routes to destinations such as Ranong, Trang, Nakhon Phanom or Sakhon Nakhon.
The carrier is now taking a new step in its development. It just announced to launch its first international flight from Bangkok-Don Mueang International Airport, connecting Bangkok and Yangon. The route will start from 1 November 2013 onwards with a flight on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday and 2 flights on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday starting from 1 December 2013. By January 1st 2014, Nok Air will upgrade its frequencies to two daily flights 2 daily flights.
All flights will be served by Boeing 737-800 capacity up to 189 seats from Don Mueang International Airport. Passengers can enjoy travelling including 15 kg. of luggage allowance, selected snack on board and free seat selection.
Bangkok (Don Mueang) –Yangon will be the third route that Nok Air will fly to Myanmar. Thailand’s premium low cost airlines already announced to operate a daily flight from Mae Sot to Mawlamyine fromSeptember 1st, 2013 and a daily flight from Mae Sot to Yangon that is due to start from October 1st, 2013. These flights will be served by SAAB 340B capacity up to 34 seats chartered from Siam General Aviation Co., Ltd. (Nok Mini). Promotional fares are proposed for a limited time on all new Myanmar routes.
Mae Sot is located in Tak Province and is considered as a natural gateway to Myanmar as the city is just where Asian Highway AH1 links between Thailand and Burma. It is one of the only two transnational roads and cross-border points across the Tenasserim Hills to Myanmar passing along the Three Pagodas Pass. The Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge crossing the Moei River was constructed nearby in 1997 and helped improving relations by land between both countries.
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.
