Thai AirAsia to launch Vientiane route on July 1

Thai AirAsia to launch Vientiane route on July 1

Thai AirAsia (TAA) confirmed yesterday the launch of Bangkok-Vientiane services to strengthen the carrier's reach in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam.

Thailand's largest low-cost carrier (LCC) has set July 1 as the inauguration date for the daily city pair connection with ticket sales also commencing yesterday.

It will be TAA's second Thai-Laotian linkage following the Bangkok-Luang Prabang route, which launched on March 24 to break new ground in budget air travel to the former royal city.

The addition of Vientiane to the low-cost carrier's routes from Bangkok was made possible by a change in the mindset of Laotian authorities, who now believe LCCs can spur much needed tourism in the country. The move further reflects that protection of their flag carrier flying the route -- Lao Airlines -- is no longer a given.

TAA operates seven routes in the four countries market, flying from Bangkok's Don Mueang airport to Yangon (four flights a day), Mandalay (one flight a day), Hanoi (one flight a day), Ho Chi Minh City (three flights a day), Phnom Penh (two flights a day), Siem Reap (three flights a day) and Luang Prabang (one flight a day).

With Vientiane, TAA becomes the LCC with the most flight connections to Asean from Thailand, reaching seven Asean countries and 15 destinations.

With the addition of Vientiane service, TAA is going to change the face of air travel between the Thai and Laotian capitals in terms of fares, with a promotion starting at 990 baht one-way inclusive of airport tax and fees, being offered until May 8.

Santisuk Klongchaiya, TAA's director of commercial operations, said the airline received strong feedback from its first connection between Thailand and Laos, with an average load factor of 80-85%.

That prompted the airline to quickly add Vientiane as a second connection with Laos, he said.

With Vientiane Laos' financial centre and a key destination for trade, TAA is confident many Thai business travellers as well as Laotian visitors will see the airline's service as an easier and cost-effective travel option.

Shares of TAA's holding company Air Aviation Plc (AAV) closed yesterday on the Stock Exchange of Thailand at 5.90 baht, up 10 satang, in trade worth 95.8 million baht.

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