Thai AirAsia (TAA) is to introduce a second daily flight from Bangkok to Mandalay to meet stronger demand.
The additional service will commence on March 17, expanding the low-cost carrier's (LCC) footprint in the emerging travel market.
Santisuk Klongchaiya, commercial director for TAA, said the airline's services to Myanmar have grown in popularity as Thais like to travel to the republic to pay homage at its holy sites.
Mandalay's main lures such as Shwenandaw Monastery, the Mahamuni Buddha Temple and Ubeng Bridge offer growth potential that TAA wants to tap.
The additional Mandalay flight kicks off TAA's 2017 intention to strengthen its network in the CLMV subregion: Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam.
The airline currently operates two flights a day from its Bangkok Don Mueang airport hub to Phnom Penh and Hanoi, one flight per day each to Siem Reap, Vientiane, Mandalay and Luang Prabang, and four flights per day to Yangon.
The LCC offers three flights per day to Ho Chi Minh City.
TAA's new route, FD 246, leaves Bangkok for Mandalay at 3.35pm and arrives at 4.55pm, with the return flight FD 247 departing Mandalay at 5.30pm and touching down in Bangkok at 7.50pm.
Pursuing its tradition in launching new services, TAA is offering a promotional fare starting at 1,290 baht one-way between now and Jan 29 for travel from March 17 to Oct 28.