For the new airline’s Patee Sarasin, the sky’s the limit
Really Cool Airline's first charter flight will take place in March 2024, with the first scheduled flight departing from Bangkok to Japan in June 2024, its founder and CEO Patee Sarasin said on Monday during a group interview, emphasising that the first Thai-owned start-up carrier was ready to be the most innovative airline in the world.
The announcement also addressed the latest operational advances since the company announced its establishment in March.
Patee said that all preparations including regulatory requirements, operational support, aircraft procurement, technological backup, and talent recruitment and training, had now been completed.
“That will allow us to meet the planned take-off date," he added.
The airline expects to obtain the Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC), which permits the use of aircraft for commercial purposes, from the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) by January of next year.
In July, CAAT granted Really Cool its Air Operating Licence, the first requirement for operating air services.
He explained that the priorities going forward will focus on operational progress while also maintaining partnerships, and managing costs while fundraising for necessary operations has already been secured.
Funds for business expansion will be raised further, he added.
Given the tourism recovery and surge in demand for travel following the pandemic, Really Cool is well-positioned to capitalise on a scenario in which airline revenue and profits are skyrocketing.
"The focus will also be on growing the business with innovation, to become a global brand with diversified Really Cool Airline (RC) business model that is more than only the airline," he said.
Patee said that the airline will operate on medium- to long-haul international routes from its base at Thailand’s main airport, Suvarnabhumi.
The carrier will initially be using two leased A330-300 wide-body jet aircraft with two more expected to come into service by the end of 2024.
Discussions are currently ongoing to secure more fuel-efficient and modern twin-aisle jets, such as the Airbus 350 or the Boeing 787, in the future.
Really Cool Air will start by serving Japan, specifically Tokyo’s Narita airport and is eyeing additional Asian routes during its first two years of operation, among them Hong Kong, Singapore, and Shanghai.
Flights to Europe are expected to come into service in 2025, particularly for secondary destinations such as Georgia, which is located on the border between Europe and Asia.
“Our target is for 70% of the total passenger load to be international leisure visitors to Thailand and the remaining 30% made up of Thais, thus helping to promote the Kingdom’s tourism," he noted.
To achieve its goal of being the most innovative airline in the world as well as the country’s new benchmark in the aviation industry, Patee pointed out that Really Cool will use the most recent technologies including artificial intelligence (AI) to provide all related services such as customer facilitators, airline distribution, and effective hedge fuel and cost management.
"We’re not just any airline - we’re a revolution in the making, and we’re excited to offer our customers bespoke travel experiences," he said.
Door-to-door luggage delivery, a revolutionary loyalty programme, and the recent launch of the ReallyCool US Digital Membership, a groundbreaking, interactive app-based program that allows members to tailor their travel experiences at great value, are among the innovations.
He emphasised that Really Cool would be the first airline in the world to provide international door-to-door luggage delivery.
Meanwhile, as a result of the costly lesson learned from the pandemic, Patee recognises that airlines must develop more flexible business models, which means that Really Cool, like other carriers, cannot rely solely on aviation services to generate revenue.
Patee pointed out that Really Cool has a winning structure in the highly volatile airline business.
He explained that the establishment of his start-up is just one of the businesses that fall under the umbrella of the entity RC Airlines Company Limited. Once the RC brand is well-established, it can be used for a variety of products and services related to the airline industry or even those unrelated to flying, in collaboration with partners all over the world.
This diversification will aid in the creation of additional revenue streams to supplement the airline business while also mitigating the risks typically associated with airline operations, he added.
"The company is working strenuously to set new benchmarks in Thai aviation, weaving together innovation, state-of-the-art technology, and exceptional passenger services unlike others," he insisted.
Initially, he anticipated that 60% of the revenue would come from the airline operation, with the remaining 40% coming from other RC group businesses. However, he hopes that as the business grows, the proportion of each part will be closer to 50%.
“We may see the RC brand being carried over to a variety of exciting ventures. So the sky is the limit,” he noted, adding that a new start-up carrier in Thailand getting off the ground has been a long time coming and Really Cool is thrilled to be part of the adventure.
