NokScoot, a joint venture of Thailand's Nok Air and Singapore-based Scoot, is gearing up to extend its reach to South Korea and India from its base at Bangkok's Don Mueang airport.
The airline expects to add service to India this year and South Korea in the near future. These are in addition to China, where NokScoot has an extensive network, as well as Taiwan and Japan, where the carrier recently increased its profile to include Osaka on top of Tokyo Narita, to which service began on June 1.
Chief executive Yodchai Sudhidhanakul said the expansion is to cope with tourism growth in Asia.
The airline has seen some impact from the decline in China arrivals amid a mainland economic slowdown and declining confidence in safety and security after the deadly boat accident off Phuket in July.
Despite the slowing China market, other originating tourism markets remain strong, notably India and South Korea.
According to statistics from the Tourism and Sports Ministry, Thailand received 1.7 million tourists from South Korea in 2017, up 16% year-on-year, and 1.4 million from India, up 18%.
To serve the network expansion, NokScoot will receive at least four Boeing 737s from Nok Air and two Boeing 777-200s from Singapore Airlines in 2019. (Scoot is a subsidiary of Singapore Airlines.)
NokScoot also plans to increase the frequency of flights on Japanese routes soon.
"We will have new aircraft, but we have to study market demand and the utilisation of aircraft for maximum benefit," Mr Yodchai said.
He said NokScoot has revised down its revenue target for 2018 to 10 billion baht, due to the China slowdown. The hope is for revenue to reach 10 billion baht again in 2019.
For now, the airline is focusing on ancillary earnings such as food, advance seat-booking fees and seat upgrades.
NokScoot yesterday launched an in-flight menu designed to create a "food experience" for passengers.
The enhanced menu stems from a collaboration of NokScoot and its catering partner, LSG Sky Chefs Thailand.
The airline expects the new menu to drive ancillary income, which constitutes more than 5% of total revenue.
Luca Folin, general manager of LSG Sky Chefs Thailand, said food is more than just a necessity. With a little creativity, it can also be entertaining, surprising or comforting.
In creating the new offerings, LSG Sky Chefs has leveraged the expertise of a global network of 700 chefs with in-depth knowledge of ethnic food preferences, Mr Folin said.