Nine new Thai airlines set to launch operations
Nine new airlines have applied for Air Operator Certificates (AOC) to launch commercial services this year, as Thailand’s aviation industry continues to recover, says the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT).
The new operators have already been granted civil aviation business licences amid rising passenger volume and demand, said CAAT director Suthipong Kongpool.
The nine operators are Asian Aerospace Company Service, Siam Seaplane, RC Airlines, Avanti Air Charter, M-Landarch, Bangkok Helicopter Services, Pattaya Airways, Asia Atlantic Airlines, and P80 Air.
The CAAT will consider each airline’s business plans, financial status, and safety standards in deciding whether to grant a licence, Suthipong said.
Meanwhile, several existing airlines in Thailand are reintroducing aircraft and recording improved financial status, in positive signs of recovery, the CAAT chief said.
No Thai airlines are at risk of financial collapse, he added.
Passenger volume has rebounded to 90% of pre-Covid levels, he said.
The CAAT forecasts a total of 127 million passengers in Thailand this year – 63.03 million international passengers and around 64.43 million domestic passengers.
Volume is expected to return to pre-Covid levels in 2024 with around 162 million passengers (88.62 million international and 74.05 million domestic).
Details of the nine new operators are as follows:
1. Asian Aerospace Company Service Co Ltd: Granted permission to operate non-scheduled flights until October 15, 2026; registered capital of 30 million baht.
2. Siam Seaplane Co Ltd: Permission to operate non-scheduled flights with Cessna C208B seaplanes until May 2, 2028; registered capital of 32 million baht.
3. RC Airlines Co Ltd (Really Cool): Permission to operate scheduled and non-scheduled flights until July 17, 2028; registered capital of 200 million baht.
RC Airbus A330-300 flights to launch in January next year, with charter flights on Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi) to Narita (Tokyo) and Nagoya routes starting March-May 2024, followed by regular flights in June or July 2024. Bangkok-Hokkaido route by the end of 2024 and Hong Kong, Singapore, Shanghai, and Georgia routes by 2025 on Airbus A350 and/or Boeing B787.
4. Avanti Air Charter Co Ltd: Permitted to operate non-scheduled flights until July 26, 2028; registered capital 25 million baht.
5. M-Landarch Co Ltd: Permitted to operate scheduled and non-scheduled flights until July 26, 2028; registered capital of 92.7 million baht. M-Landarch will use 19-seater C408 Sky courier aircraft to fly southern routes to Betong from Hat Yai, Phuket, and Narathiwat.
6. Bangkok Helicopter Services Co Ltd: Currently holds an AOC (Air Operator Certificate) granted for scheduled and non-scheduled flights until August 22, 2028; registered capital of 400 million baht.
7. Pattaya Airways Co Ltd: Permitted to operate non-scheduled cargo flights until August 27, 2028, with a registered capital of 200 million baht. Cargo operations in Asia to launch in the fourth quarter of 2024, expanding to other regions later.
8. Asia Atlantic Airlines Co Ltd: Permitted to operate scheduled flights until August 28, 2028, with registered capital of 249 million baht.
9. P80 Air Co Ltd: Permitted to operate scheduled and non-scheduled flights until August 30, 2028, with registered capital of 300 million baht. P80 Air plans to start flying to China in the third quarter of this year with four B737-800 NG aircraft. P80 is considering whether to offer business or economy class services.
