Thai Airways International, Nok Air, and Thai Smile Airways held a press conference and signing ceremony on roundtrip codeshare flights from Don Mueang-Mae Hong Son.
Mrs. Usanee Sangsingkeo, Thai Airways Acting President, said that the codeshare agreement between Thai, Nok Air, and Thai Smile on roundtrip flights from Don Mueang-Mae Hong Son was initiated to support the government policy to promote tourism to secondary or smaller townships in order to boost revenue and tourists. Nok Air will be the operating carrier, with Thai and Thai Smile as the marketing carriers which increases opportunities for the sale of tickets on this route.
This codeshare agreement also strengthens the level of cooperation between Thai commercial airlines in the Thai domestic market and will provide more convenient for passengers traveling roundtrip to Mae Hong Son. Thai Airways is confident that there will be increased revenue on flights to and from Mae Hong Son and anticipates that at least 20,000 passengers will be transported per year. As a result, this effort will help support a continuous increase in travel to Thailand and Thailand’s goal to be the aviation hub for the ASEAN region.
Mr. Piya Yodmani, Nok Air Chief Executive Officer, said that Nok Air is ready to launch the service between Don Mueang and Mae Hong Son in cooperation with Thai Group:
“We plan to operate this route with 72-seat ATR72 aircraft which we already have in the fleet. The service frequency will start with three flights per week on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. The inaugural flight will be on March 25, 2018.
“Mae Hong Son province has a beautiful nature with a variety of cultural diversity, and many travelers wish to visit. However, traveling by car is quite difficult, it requires skill in driving and the travel time is relatively long. We think that the opening of this route would help to make it more convenient for travelers and we hope to see positive feedback from all local and foreigner passengers.
“In addition, we recognize the importance of government policies in stimulating tourism in the secondary cities which would benefit people in the area. Nok Air is only one of the elements that will support tourism and achieve the goals that have been set”.
Mr. Chatchai Panyoo, Thai Smile Acting Chief Executive Officer said that the codeshare flights by Thai, Nok Air and Thai Smile between Don Mueang and Mae Hong Son, will not only help promote tourism in accordance with the policy promoting second-tier provinces, especially for Mae Hong Son province, but also offer another alternative choice for Thai Smile passengers to explore new experience in the city that features its specialty and uniqueness awaiting to be discovered.