Bangkok Airways sees airline industry growing 10% this year
THE Thai airline industry will likely grow by 10% this year with more flights being added despite intense competition and this will lead to lots of attractive promotions being offered to passengers, Thai News Agency quoted Puttipong Prasarttong-Osoth, CEO of Bangkok Airways Plc, as saying today (Feb. 24).
As airlines are affected by the recent jet fuel excise tax hike, which Reuters said is for domestic flights and rose to 4 baht (US$0.11) a liter from 0.2 baht with fuel for international flights exempt from the tax, airfares would rise but this will not be substantial because they have to be based on market levels and match passengers’ needs with the average expected to be 4-5 US dollars a flight.
Mr Puttipong also said while plans to improve parts of the northern runway of Suvarnabhumi Airport from March 3 to May 5, 2017, or altogether 60 days, would impact travelling and landing and takeoff of airplanes during some periods with this leading to flight delays of all airlines, Bangkok Airways is not affected because its aircraft are smaller in size. However he is certain Suvarnabhumi Airport has made preparations to handle this situation.
He added that he is pleased to receive Air Operator Certification from Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) on Monday Feb. 27 and believes his is the first airline to get it after CAAT rechecked this certification as suggested by International Civil Aviation Organization which issued Thailand a “red flag” in June 2015,
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Top: Mr Puttipong talking to the Press today. Photo: Thai News Agency
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