Thai VietJet Air (TVJA) yesterday became the first Thai-registered low-cost carrier (LCC) to launch in nearly three years.
The launch of its first two routes -- Bangkok-Phuket and Phuket-Chiang Rai -- took place quietly yesterday, with rivals like Thai AirAsia, Nok Air and Thai Lion Air paying little attention.
With yesterday's inauguration of scheduled flights, the Thai subsidiary of fledgling Vietnamese no-frills carrier VietJet Air made good on their the promised launch date, which came after a protracted three-year holding period.
TVJA's daily Bangkok-Phuket flight and thrice-weekly flights between Phuket and Chiang Rai, will use the Airbus A320 single-aisle jets.
Its third Thai domestic route, Bangkok-Chiang Mai, is scheduled to start on Sept 26. The first international service, Bangkok-Haiphong, will begin on Nov 9 with four weekly flights, according to airline executives.
On Tuesday, TVJA received a third A320 from its parent company, which had earlier provided the carrier with two older-version aircraft.
Nguyen Thi Thuy Binh, vice-president of VietJet Air, said in a statement that the arrival of the third aircraft, featuring "sharklet" wingtips, reflects a commitment to developing the tourism industry in Thailand.
TVJA entry into Thailand's competitive budget air travel market has not created any stir among existing players mainly because it flies out of Suvarnabhumi airport, a different battleground from where they mainly compete, Don Mueang airport, LCC executives said.
TVJA's scale of operation is also relatively small compared with other Thailand-based LCCs, and it has yet to announce ambitious expansion plans they may see as a threat, they said.
Load factor levels in TVJA's initial flights were not clear, but earlier this month a TVJA executive said the airline was looking at around 70%, rising to 80% once the routes are established.
Parent VietJet began its first international service linking Ho Chi Minh City and Bangkok in 2013. It now offers thrice daily flights, including one daily to Hanoi.
The VietJet Air group has a fleet of 40 aircraft, including A320s and A321s, and operates 350 flights daily across 53 routes in Vietnam and across the region to Thailand, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, China and Myanmar.