Nine new airlines have applied for Air Operator Certificates (AOC) in Thailand to commence commercial flight services this year, the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) shas revealed.
The report, published by Thai media outlet The Nation, is a strong indicator that aviation and tourism in Thailand is well on its way to pre-pandemic levels.
The CAAT said that in deciding whether to grant the carriers a license, it considered each airline’s business plans, financial status, and safety standards.
Details about the nine new operators, including details on certificate status, are as follows:
- Asian Aerospace Company Service: Granted permission to operate non-scheduled flights until October 15, 2026; registered capital of THB 30 million ($852,000)
- Siam Seaplane: Permission to operate non-scheduled flights with Cessna C208B seaplanes until May 2, 2028; registered capital of THB 32 million ($908,000)
- Really Cool Airlines: Permission to operate scheduled and non-scheduled flights until July 17, 2028; registered capital of THB 200 million ($5.6 million). RC Airbus A330-300 flights to launch in January 2024, with charter flights on Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) to Tokyo’s Narita Airport (NRT) and Nagoya Chubu Centrair International Airport (NGO) routes starting March-May 2024, followed by regular flights in June or July 2024. Bangkok Airport (BKK) to Hokkaido route by the end of 2024 and Hong Kong, Singapore, Shanghai, and Georgia routes by 2025 on Airbus A350 and/or Boeing B787 aircraft.
- Avanti Air Charter: Permitted to operate non-scheduled flights until July 26, 2028; registered capital THB 25 million ($709,000).
- M-Landarch: Permitted to operate scheduled and non-scheduled flights until July 26, 2028; registered capital of THB 92.7 million ($2.63 million). M-Landarch will use 19-seater C408 Sky courier aircraft to fly southern routes to Betong from Hat Yai, Phuket, and Narathiwat.
- Bangkok Helicopter Services: Currently holds an AOC (Air Operator Certificate) granted for scheduled and non-scheduled flights until August 22, 2028; registered capital of THB 400 million ($11 million)
- Pattaya Airways: Permitted to operate non-scheduled cargo flights until August 27, 2028, with a registered capital of THB 200 million ($5.5 million). Cargo operations in Asia to launch in the fourth quarter of 2024, to expand to other regions later.
- Asia Atlantic Airlines: Permitted to operate scheduled flights until August 28, 2028, with registered capital of THB 249 million. ($7 million)
- P80 Air: Permitted to operate scheduled and non-scheduled flights until August 30, 2028, with registered capital of THB 300 million ($8.5 million). P80 Air plans to start flying to China in the third quarter 2024 with four B737-800 NG aircraft. P80 is considering whether to offer business or economy class services.
The CAAT also said that passenger volume in Thailand has rebounded to 90% of pre-COVID levels, and that it forecasts a total of 127 million passengers in Thailand in 2023 (63.03 million international passengers and around 64.43 million domestic passengers).
For 2024, the CAAT is optimistic, anticipating volume to return to pre-COVID levels with around 162 million passengers (88.62 million international and 74.05 million domestic).
Thailand’s top three tourist markets post-pandemic are China, Malaysia, and South Korea, followed by India and Russia.
