Bangkok Airways Part 2: Plans for further network, fleet & partnership portfolio expansion for 2016

Bangkok Airways is planning further rapid expansion in 2016 as it adds three A320 family aircraft, three international destinations and at least five codeshare partners. The independent full service regional carrier aims to carry 6 million passengers in 2016, giving it nearly twice as much traffic as 2011.

Bangkok Airways sees growth opportunities at its main hub as several of its codeshare partners continue to add capacity at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport. Bangkok Airways currently codeshares with 20 carriers and has five new partners in the pipeline including its first two from mainland China.

There are also opportunities to grow at its hub on the resort island of Samui, where it owns and operates an airport. Bangkok Airways has been gradually adding flights at Samui since it secured approval a year ago to increase the government imposed cap on movements from 36 to 50 daily return flights. It is now seeking an increase for Samui Airport to 75 flights, which would unlock further growth at an increasingly popular destination that is not served by any low cost carriers.