DAVID FULLBROOK / SINGAPORE
Bangkok Airways, Thailand's second largest carrier, expects to operate 200 to 250-seat aircraft by 2006, as it evaluates the Airbus A310 and Boeing 757 and 767-200.
An order for two medium-sized aircraft able to reach destinations 6h away needs to be placed before next year for the aircraft to be delivered in time for the opening of Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport around 2005, says Bangkok Airways president and chief executive Prasert Prassarttong-Osoth.
Medium-haul aircraft are needed to carry tourists from Australia, China and India to connect with the airline's regional network and provide links to Bali in Indonesia, says Prasert.
The company's fleet of ATR 72-500s and Boeing 717-200s will be replaced towards the end of this decade, says Prasert, adding that the airline prefers not to use aircraft more than than six years old.
Bangkok Airways' medium-haul aircraft could be operating to a terminal run by the airline. This will happen if a planned joint venture with a number of foreign long-haul carriers wins the contract to develop Suvarnabhumi's second terminal, which may be needed by 2008 as the first terminal now being built for Thai Airways International will only support between 30 and 35 million passengers annually.
Bangkok Airways has built a profitable network linking the beaches and cultural centres of Thailand, Indochina and southern China. Revenue is forecast to grow 23-25% this year to 4.5 billion baht ($103 million) and carry 1.25 million passengers compared with 1.15 million last year.
Source: Flight International
