Thai AirAsia X (TAAX) is all set to spread its wings to Tehran and Muscat to cash in on new travel market frontiers.
Chief executive Nadda Buranasiri yesterday made an official announcement to confirm the launch reported earlier this month by the Bangkok Post.
Thailand's first long-haul low-cost carrier will start operating three non-stop flights a week from its Bangkok base at Don Mueang airport to Iranian capital Tehran on June 22. It will also start offering three flights week from Bangkok to Muscat on June 28.
The direct connections between Bangkok and the two Middle Eastern capitals are served mainly by Tehran-based Mahan Airlines and flag carrier Oman Air, which also operates on behalf of Thai Airways International.
TAAX will become the first low-cost carrier to offer regular services on those routes.
Both routes are being introduced with promotional fares starting at 2,990 baht for an economy class seat and 9,990 baht for a business class flat-bed seat.
The lifting of economic sanctions against Iran in January has turned Tehran into a new economic frontier and an emerging tourism market, said Mr Nadda.
These two new routes also support the strategies of the Thai government and the Tourism Authority of Thailand to penetrate new markets, he said.
Furthermore, those TAAX connections will serve to attract Middle Eastern travellers to Thailand via Iran and Oman, making them gateways to Bangkok.
Iranian visitors to Thailand grew by 20% to 88,000 last year and this year's numbers are expected to soar to 120,000, according to Mr Nadda.
Arrivals to Thailand from Oman were about 130,000 last year, with a rise of 10-15% expected this year.
TAAX expects an average load factor of 80% on the Tehran and Muscat routes, with 80% of seats taken by Iranians and Omanis and the rest by Thais.
The airline already serves Seoul, Tokyo, Osaka and Shanghai. It plans to launch another route later this year.