Aviation boom in Thailand: 8 new Thai airlines are starting flights
Eight new Thai airlines are set to launch services in Thailand this year amid a tourism revival. The country is expecting a steady recovery in travel and aims to attract around 35 million foreign visitors in 2024.
According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand, Really Cool Airlines plans to offer scheduled services on medium- and long-haul international routes. The company is among those that have received approval from Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungriangkit for operator licenses. Carriers are also allowed to import a total of 60 aircraft. This was reported by hindustantimes.com.
The new operators will compete with airlines, including Thai Airways International Pcl, which is ordering 80 aircraft from Boeing Co, and Asia Aviation Pcl, for a share of the more than 130 million passengers expected to travel through the country's six main airports this year. Last year, the number of foreign tourists more than doubled to 28 million after the administration of Prime Minister Sretta Tavisin abolished visa requirements for travelers from the country's key markets such as China and India.
Really Cool Airlines will start operating charter flights in March. Initially, it plans to operate flights to Japan and serve additional Asian destinations such as Hong Kong, Singapore, and Shanghai within the first two years.
Other airlines planning to start operations this year include Pattaya Airways, Asian Aerospace Service, Avanti Air Starter, Siam Seaplane, and Asia Atlantic Airlines.
