Thai to launch new budget airline
Thai Airways has confirmed the launch of a new budget airline, Thai Smile Air, which will start operating domestic flights from Bangkok next July.
Destinations offered will include Chiang Rai, the main gateway to the Golden Triangle in northern Thailand, and Surat Thani, the closest airport to islands in the Gulf of Thailand including Koh Samui and Koh Phangan. It will also fly to Ubon Ratchathani and Khon Kaen in the north east.
Based at Bangkok International Suvarnabhumi Airport, the carrier will have a fleet of 11 Airbus A320s with 174-seats each and will focus on secondary routes less than two hours flying time from the capital, offering connections with Thai Airways' flights.
Domestic flights will launch next summer but the airline has plans to expand onto international routes from 2013.
Thai Airways president Mr. Piyasvasti said: "Thai Smile Air will operate
using Thai's TG airline code, and will be appropriately priced to ensure
the product is competitive in the airline market.
"The name Thai Smile Air was selected from more than 2,000 entries from Thai employees, and I think the confirmed name suits our proposed concept of being 'trendy,
friendly, and worthy travel.'"
He said Thai Smile would not affect Thai's plans for Thai Tiger Airways, a low-fares carrier being launched in partnership with Singapore's Tiger Airways, which he said would 'materialise as soon as possible'.
Thai Smile flights will go on sale early next year.
By Linsey McNeill
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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