Okay taps into Chinese love affair with Chiang Mai
Okay Airways will become the latest Chinese carrier to spread its wings to Chiang Mai, a favourite Thai destination for mainlanders.
The full-service airline looks set to operate three flights a week non-stop from Nanjing in eastern China to Chiang Mai starting in July.
Chiang Mai airport general manager Visutr Chantana confirmed Okay’s descent to the northern city, joining six Chinese carriers that have already made Chiang Mai their port of call.
The Tianjin-based airline intends to use a single-aisle Boeing 737 jet on its maiden flight to Chiang Mai, its third Thai port after Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi) and Krabi in southern Thailand.
Chiang Mai has direct connections with seven to eight southern Chinese cities, said Gp Capt Visutr.
Some 26 international and local airlines operate regular flights to Chiang Mai airport. Chinese airlines serving Chiang Mai include Air China, China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines, Juneyao Airlines, Shangdong Airlines and low-cost carrier Spring Airlines.
Okay wants to tap surging Chinese travel demand to Chiang Mai and Thailand in general. Chinese tourist arrivals to Thailand grew 31% in the first quarter to 2.6 million.
That figure represents 28% of just over 9 million international arrivals over the period as recorded by the Tourism and Sports Ministry.
Last year saw a 30% jump in Chinese passing through Chiang Mai airport to reach 700,000. This year the tally is expected to reach 1 million, he said.
The ministry expects foreign travellers to Thailand to reach 32 million in 2016, up from nearly 30 million last year. Arrivals from China, which jumped 71% to 7.9 million last year, are projected to reach 10 million this year.