Thai AirAsia X (TAAX) has won approval from the Civil Aviation Department for an air operator's certificate (AOC), a threshold step in the regulatory process that paves the way for it to launch Thailand's first long-haul low-cost carrier.
The receipt of the certificate on Monday allows TAAX to proceed to apply for operating permits and slots for international flights out of Bangkok's Don Mueang airport.
An AOC is defined as an approval granted by a national aviation authority to an aircraft operator to allow it to use aircraft for commercial purposes.
This requires the operator to have personnel, assets and systems in place, and the AOC lists the aircraft types and registrations to be used, for what purpose and in what area specific airports or geographical region.
TAAX's parent, the Malaysia-based AirAsia X, confirmed the receipt of the certificate while announcing the appointment of Thai national Nadda Buranasiri as TAAX's chief executive.
Mr Nadda was described as having more than 20 years of international general management experience across global multinational organisations.
TAAX has not yet announced its launch date for commercial operations, saying it is subject to the receipt of operating permits and the granting of slots.
However, insiders said Thailand's escalating political troubles will be a significant complication determining TTAX's launch date, which was earlier said to be in the second quarter of this year.
AirAsia X said TAAX will lease two Airbus A330-300s with 377 seats from a subsidiary of the company in its first year of operations.
AirAsia X chief executive Azran Osman-Rani said TTAX will offer connecting fly-through services with Thai AirAsia's short-haul domestic and regional network, offering greater connectivity options from hubs in Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok.
"The establishment of TTAX's base at Don Mueang will see the beginning of AirAsia X's strategic multi-hub plan turn into reality," said the Malaysian executive.