PHUKET: New airline Thai Smile is set to begin flying on Phuket-Bangkok, Phuket-Chiang Mai and Bangkok-Chiang Mai routes from September 16, the start-up carrier has revealed.
The new airline will begin domestic operations with single daily return flights from Phuket to Bangkok and Chiang Mai, and with a twice daily service between Chiang Mai and Bangkok.
Classified not as a budget carrier but as a ''light premium'' service, the new brand is Thai International's response to increased competition from low-cost brands throughout the region.
Officials at Smile confirmed today that pricing of its fares would take a middle route between Thai and budget competitors such as AirAsia.
The inaugural flight for the new brand took place earlier this month from Bangkok to Macau, the former Portuguese protectorate near Hong Kong.
Thai Smile's fleet consists of four A320s with 12-seater and 16-seater aircraft available for private charter.
More A320s are said to be on order but recent newspaper reports have questioned whether Thai Airways International will proceed with the purchase of all 47 aircraft now on order for both the parent brand and its innovative offshoot.
Thai International also has a stake in budget flier Nok Air but Nok was reluctant to join Thai in launching a new brand.
An early reviewer on the first Thai Smile delivery flight reported that attendants were dressed in ''very stylish and smart orange uniforms''.
The new airline will begin domestic operations with single daily return flights from Phuket to Bangkok and Chiang Mai, and with a twice daily service between Chiang Mai and Bangkok.
Classified not as a budget carrier but as a ''light premium'' service, the new brand is Thai International's response to increased competition from low-cost brands throughout the region.
Officials at Smile confirmed today that pricing of its fares would take a middle route between Thai and budget competitors such as AirAsia.
The inaugural flight for the new brand took place earlier this month from Bangkok to Macau, the former Portuguese protectorate near Hong Kong.
Thai Smile's fleet consists of four A320s with 12-seater and 16-seater aircraft available for private charter.
More A320s are said to be on order but recent newspaper reports have questioned whether Thai Airways International will proceed with the purchase of all 47 aircraft now on order for both the parent brand and its innovative offshoot.
Thai International also has a stake in budget flier Nok Air but Nok was reluctant to join Thai in launching a new brand.
An early reviewer on the first Thai Smile delivery flight reported that attendants were dressed in ''very stylish and smart orange uniforms''.
Though more competition usually results in lower prices, it's kinda odd that THAI chose to virtually compete with itself.
No wonder Nok Air was reluctant to join the launch.
Looking at the consequences of the current rice pledging scheme, I'm not surprised.
Posted by Andrew on July 31, 2012 18:22