Nine new Thai airlines are poised to commence operations as the tourism-reliant nation anticipates a sustained recovery in leisure travel, with an expected influx of about 35 million foreign visitors this year.
The new airlines preparing to launch operations include Asian Aerospace Service, Siam Seaplane, Really Cool Airlines, Avanti Air Starter, Landarch Airlines, Bangkok Helicopter Services, Pattaya Airways, Asia Atlantic Airlines, and P80 Air.
Some of these airlines will focus on regional and domestic flights, while others may contribute to expanding Thailand’s aviation market by potentially offering international routes.
Really Cool Airlines, founded by Patee Sarasin, a former chief executive of budget carrier Nok Airlines Pcl, is set to begin chartered flight services in March. The airline’s initial operations will focus on flights to Japan, with plans to expand to other Asian destinations such as Hong Kong, Singapore, and Shanghai within the first two years, as announced by Patee in November.
The government aims to promote tourism in more provinces to make Thailand a year-round destination, with a target of attaining a trillion baht from domestic tourism and 2.5 trillion from foreign visitors.
Thailand welcomed over 27 million visitors in 2023, surpassing the government’s target. The largest group of visitors came from Malaysia, followed by China, but falling short of the initial target of 4 million Chinese visitors. The decrease in tourist numbers can be attributed to the impact of China’s slow economy on international travel, as well as a noticeable shift towards domestic tourism within the country.
Both Thailand and China have decided to permanently waive visa requirements for their citizens starting from March 1. This move aims to boost relations and provide opportunities for tourists from both countries.
