Bangkok Post

Four new airlines alight in Thailand

- BOONSONG KOSITCHOTE­THANA

Four internatio­nal carriers have made their debut in Thailand in the past five months.

Starting to descend for first time to major Thai airports are the United Arab Emirates’ Flydubai, Peach Aviation from Japan, and Hebei Airlines and Kunming Airlines from China.

Their arrivals raise the total number of airlines operating through airports run by the Airports of Thailand Plc (AoT) to 136, boosting the country’s connection­s with the world.

The newcomers with their routes, frequencie­s and start dates are:

Flydubai, Dubai-Bangkok, two flights a week, starting Nov 29, 2016;

Peach Aviation, Okinawa-Bangkok, seven f/w, Feb 20, 2017;

Hebei Airlines, Shijiazhua­ng-Bangkok, three f/w, March 27, 2017;

Kunming Airlines, Kunming-Hat Yai, unspecifie­d frequencie­s, April 1, 2017.

In addition, HK Express and Beijing Capital Airlines, which have previously operated flights to Thailand, opened new routes.

HK Express announced two weekly flights between Hong Kong and Chiang Rai, beginning on Nov 27, 2017.

Beijing Capital Airlines commenced two routes — Haikou-Chiang Mai and Haikou-Chiang Rai, each with one flight a week — starting on March 27 and 31, 2017, respective­ly.

AoT president Nitinai Sirismatth­akarn said the arrivals of additional foreign carriers come as a result of the company’s drive to attract more internatio­nal airlines to AoT-operated airports.

The company operates six airports, including the gateway Suvarnabhu­mi outside Bangkok that already faces critical congestion.

Mr Nitinai said AoT has put in place four categories of incentive schemes to attract airlines to descend to its airports.

Among those eligible for airport fee discounts are scheduled airlines that open new routes or increase frequencie­s on existing internatio­nal routes.

 ?? BOONSONG KOSITCHOTE­THANA ?? Passengers check a flight board at Suvarnabhu­mi airport. More foreign airlines are descending to major Thai airports.
BOONSONG KOSITCHOTE­THANA Passengers check a flight board at Suvarnabhu­mi airport. More foreign airlines are descending to major Thai airports.

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