Thai AirAsia CEO Tassapon Bijleveld talks to TravelDailyNews Asia-Pacific about Thai AirAsia move to Bangkok Don Muang Airport by next October.
A week ago, low cost carrier Thai AirAsia announced to relocate its activity at Bangkok old airport in Don Muang from October 1st. TAA CEO Tassapon Bijleveld explains to TravelDailyNews Asia-Pacific what can passengers expect from this change.
Which terminal will be used for the operations?
Tassapon Bijleveld: We will use Don Muang Airport Terminal 1 as Terminal 2 still needs to be renovated due to last year flooding.
Will you be able to privatise parts of the terminal and put it under your own colours or logo?
T.B.: The terminal belongs to the airport’s authority of Thailand, AOT. As such, we cannot privatize this but we will have the necessary branding and communication materials to facilitate guests’ orientation and their well-being.
Why did you choose the date of October 1st and not before?
T.B.: After careful consideration, October 1st would give us adequate time to prepare and move our services to Don Muang Airport. We also need time to inform our passengers who already booked with us under the assumption that they would be travelling to or from Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport.
Did you get any better financial incentives this time from the airport’s authorities compared to previous attempts for you to locate at Don Muang or compared to current incentives at Suvarnabhumi Airport?
T.B.: We received standard financial and marketing incentives from AOT. However, we work with AOT to be sure that the authority will be providing sufficient facilities such as shopping, food and beverage outlets to ensure a pleasant travel experience at Don Muang for passengers. The biggest advantage is also that due to less congestion at Don Muang airport, it will make travel easier with shorter immigration lines and less waiting time for luggage collection. And finally, Don Muang’s location is also closer to town and guests will benefit from this.
Will the new incentives offered by AOT translated into new benefits to passengers such as additional reductions on fares?
T.B.: We were given standard incentives by AOT and airport tax remains the same for our passengers; AirAsia will continue to offer the lowest fares to travel within the region. Our weekly promotions and sales will continue to take place so that our passengers can enjoy our services at affordable prices.
Are the other airlines from the AirAsia Group also transferring their flights into Bangkok Don Muang?
T.B.: All AirAsia flights for other affiliates such as AK or QZ will also transfer to Don Muang Airport as of October 1st, 2012.
Do you believe that Thai AirAsia will lose some traffic (estimate in percentage) from passengers on transfer from other airlines (long haul scheduled carrier)or who wanted to go to Pattaya?
T.B.: The percentage of AirAsia passengers who need to transfer to or from other airlines at Suvarnabhumi Airport is not that big. However, for passengers who need to transit in Suvarnabhumi or go to Pattaya, they will still be able do so from Don Muang. Passengers who need to connect on other airlines at Suvarnabhumi will be able to enjoy the convenient free shuttle bus services offered between Don Muang and Suvarnahbhumi Airport provided by AOT and AirAsia. Those flying with AirAsia and intend to connect from an international AirAsia flight to a domestic AirAsia flight can do so at Don Muang Airport since all of our flights (domestic and international) will be moving there. To Pattaya, there will be direct services out of the airport.
Does the move to Don Muang change your network strategy? Will you consider now to fly to more destinations following the airport’s transfer?
T.B.: AirAsia will continue to open new destinations as previously planned. In fact, we will be able to do so with more focus as the airport will offer more efficiency. During the first quarter of 2012, we added six new routes and as we continue to receive more new planes to our fleet, our destinations will also continue to increase. AirAsia will expand our fleet to 48 planes by 2016.
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.
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