Nok Air has taken delivery of the first of 15 next-generation B737 aircraft purchased directly from the US aeroplane maker Boeing.
The aircraft, named Nok Budhnampetch, is in the B737-800 series and is on standby to enter into the budget airline's operation after arriving in Bangkok from Boeing's assembly plant in Washington state.
The 15 is the first batch of aircraft bought by Nok Air. All of the carrier's B737s currently in use come from international lessors.
The delivery of Nok Budhnampetch forms part of the February 2014 contract, valued at US$1.45 billion for seven 737-800s and eight 737 MAX 8s, the latest version of the best-selling family of B737 jets now in the final stage of development.
Nok Air chief executive Patee Sarasin said the airline planned to introduce the new 737 MAX 8 in the next couple of years.
The carrier will be the first airline in Thailand to operate the new version of the B737. It currently operates 19 737-800 jets.
Meanwhile, Nok Air on Wednesday commenced a third daily flight to Yangon from its base at Bangkok's Don Mueang airport in response to strong demand partly spurred by the revocation of visa requirements for Thai visitors to Myanmar.
The airline will also launch regular services to Ho Chi Minh City on Oct 1 and plans to add Hanoi as the next destination towards the end of this year, according to Nok Air executives.
The Ho Chi Minh City service marks Nok Air's first return to Vietnam since 2008 when it began to concentrate on expanding its domestic service after it suspended its loss-making international flights to Hanoi and Bangalore.