Bangkok Airways

Thai Airways to use Thai Smile to fight back at AirAsia and rapid LCC growth in Thailand

Thai Airways’ new regional unit, Thai Smile, will initially compete primarily against Thai AirAsia on domestic routes when it launches services at the middle of next year. While Thai Smile will offer some frills and connect with Thai Airways and other Star Alliance carriers, the unit’s lower cost base is designed to compete more effectively against Thai’s largest local rival.

The Thai Airways board late last month approved the brand name Thai Smile, replacing Thai Wing, which has been the provisional name since the board initially approved in May-2011 the creation of a new regional airline unit. Thai Smile is now aiming to launch domestic services in Jul-2012 from a base at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi, following a hybrid model that is part LCC and part full-service regional carrier.

Cambodia Airports records strong traffic growth as one of ASEAN's smallest markets shows potential

Cambodia Airports has been experiencing strong traffic growth in 2011 as traffic at Siem Reap recovers to 2007 levels. The recently rebranded airport operator, which is owned primarily by French firm Vinci, expects continued growth at Siem Reap and Phnom Penh while it continues to work on attracting a carrier to its third airport at Sihanoukville.

Thai Airways delays launch of Thai Tiger Airways again; Thai AirAsia preparing strategies to compete

Thai Airways has had a number of challenges in its plans to establish new LCC start-up, Thai Tiger Airways, under a JV with Singapore’s Tiger Airways. In its latest set back, the carrier has been forced to postpone the launch date of the LCC from Mar-2011 to late May-2011. However, the setbacks have not comforted competitors, with Thai AirAsia stating it is developing strategies to effectively compete with the new LCC.

Airline service quality: Southeast Asia sets the standard

When surveys are taken on quality, the airlines of Southeast Asia dominate. In the second of our series assessing the strengths and weaknesses of airlines through a sampling of traveller reviews taken from Skytrax, the focus moves to the Southeast Asian carriers.

Airlines invest in airports. A growing trend

The contract offered by Latvia’s Riga Airport to national airline airBaltic to build and operate a EUR92 million terminal for seven million passengers per annum by 2014 is unusual but not unique. For more than a decade airlines have been investing in some of the airports at which they operate, and on some occasions as the only investor. A new report published by CAPA highlights this practice.