Thai Smile, the budget subsidiary of Thai Airways International (THAI), plans to provide service to Chiang Mai, Phuket and Khon Kaen from Don Mueang airport next week, airline executives said Thursday.
Surapol Isarakura na Ayutthaya, THAI's acting vice-president, said eight flights will depart Don Mueang on Aug 8 with the rest following by Oct 26.
"Thai Smile expects to move its base of operations for all point-to-point flights from Don Muang from Oct 26. Flights connecting to Thai Airways still operate at Suvarnabhumi airport,'' he said.
Woranate Laprabang, acting chief executive officer of THAI Smile Airways Co, added that the budget airline will offer three daily flights to both Chiang Mai and Khon Kaen and two flights daily to Phuket on Aug 8.
Thai Smile, the budget subsidiary of Thai Airways, launched with fanfare in 2013, touting itself as a "light premium" carrier imed at younger travellers under the concept that it is hip, fun, and cheap. The airline returns to Don Meuang airport Aug 8. (Bangkok Post photo)
To mark the introduction of the new Don Mueang service, the airline announced Thursday promotional fares for one-way travel to Chiang Mai and Khon Kaen starting at 990 baht and 1,090 baht to Phuket. Tickets go on sale Aug 1-31 with travel between Aug 8 and Aug 31.
The airline's plan to move all operations from Suvarnabhumi to Don Mueang airports was mooted by the National Council of Peace and Order last week. THAI Smile had used Don Mueang as its base before moving to Suvarnabhumi.
Mr Surapol said the return to Don Mueang would help the airline to grab more passengers in the already competitive market of the low-cost airlines.
The domestic market is dominated by Thai AirAsia and Nok Air. The two low-cost airlines uses Don Mueang for its operations for local and international flights. The market already heated up after Thai Lion Air joined the business.
THAI Smile sets itself as a premium low-cost airline by using the THAI brand as a selling point to lure passengers.
Mr Surapol said the relocation will help the airline fill more seats and reduce operational costs, including fuel costs incurred sitting on the crowded tarmac at Suvarnabhumi. Some savings are offset by the 5 million baht price tag of building facilities at Don Mueang.
"Thai Smile has to move because the second construction phase of Suvarnabhumi airport will take at least six years to complete. Don Mueang airport has room to expand and has a better outlook than Suvarnabhumi in the short term,'' he added.
Thai Smile will hold talks with Nok Air, which also uses Don Mueang as its base, to avoid redundant routings between the two no-frills carriers, he added.
Despite the planned relocation, Mr Woranate said revenue this year will remain unchanged with the carrier projected to miss its targeted 10 billion baht income line by 20%. Passengers loads also will fall short of the 3 million hoped for by year-end.
Political unrest is blamed for the shortfalls, as street rallies and May's coup drove away foreign tourists and discouraged travelling among locals.
THAI Smile operates 10 domestic routes from Suvarnabhumi and regional routes to Macao, Mandalay, Chongqing, Changsha, Colombo, Hyderabad, Phnom Pehn, New Delhi and Luang Prabang. Flights to Vientiane will start on Oct 26.
Mr Woranate said the carrier will add Hong Kong as a new destination and let THAI take over the flights to New Delhi and Hyderrabad, as most passengers on the two Indian routes were those continuing their journeys to third destinations via Thailand.