Nok Airlines Public Company Limited (Nok Air) (Bangkok) and Boeing (Chicago and Seattle) have announced from the Singapore Airshow a commitment to order eight Next-Generation 737-800s and seven 737 MAX 8s. The commitment, valued at $1.45 billion at list prices, will establish Nok Air as the first airline in Thailand to operate the 737 MAX.

Boeing will work with the Bangkok-based airline to finalize the details of the agreement, at which time the order will be posted to the Boeing Orders & Deliveries website. While Nok Air currently operates a fleet of 14 Next-Generation 737s, this will mark the airline’s first direct order with Boeing.

Copyright Photo: Keith Burton/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 737-83N HS-DBH (msn 32614) departs from Bangkok (Don Mueang) base.

Nok Air (view the colorful liveries): CLICK HERE

Bangkok Airways (Bangkok Air) (Bangkok) and ATR today announced a contract for the sale of six firm ATR 72-600 aircraft and two options. Bangkok Airways has been operating ATR aircraft for two decades and currently operates a fleet of eight ATR 72-500s. The first new ATR 72-600s will be delivered later this year, allowing Bangkok Airways to start renewing its fleet.

Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com. ATR 72-212A (ATR 72-500) HS-PGF (msn 700) named “Hua Hin” arrives back at the Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi) base.

Bangkok Air: 

Finnair (Helsinki) will increase its number of flights to Thailand for next winter. From December 30, 2014 to March 27, 2015 Finnair will supplement its double-daily winter service to Bangkok with three additional frequencies per week. The extra flights bring the number of Finnair’s peak-season weekly Bangkok services to 17, the most frequencies of any European carrier.

The additional flights are scheduled to depart on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday evenings. Flight AY 091 departs Helsinki Airport (HEL) at 8:15 P.M. (2015) for arrival at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) at 11:00 A.M. (1100) the next day. Flight AY 092 leaves Bangkok on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays at 12:45 P.M. (1245) for arrival in Helsinki at 6:55 P.M. (1855). The new evening frequencies, operated with Airbus A340 aircraft in a two-class Business and Economy configuration, offer excellent connections with other cities in Finland, Scandinavia, France and Germany. Together with the daily Bangkok flights AY 089 (departure at 4:40 PM) and AY 095 (6:30 PM), the three extra flights constitute an intensive traffic program giving passengers a wide range of choices and increased connectivity throughout Finnair’s network.

Copyright Photo: TMK Photography/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A340-313X OH-LQD (msn 921) in the special Unikko floral print (1964) design taxies at Toronto (Pearson).

Finnair: 

Thai Airways International (Bangkok) is currently now planning to retire its last Airbus A300-600 on July 31, 2014 (moved up from October 25, 2014) per Airline Route. The airline is operating the type of flights from the Bangkok hub to Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Khon Kaen and Phuket.

Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A300B4-622R HS-TAZ (msn 787) arrives at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi International Airport (BKK).

Thai: 

Jet Airways  (Mumbai) launched a new daily nonstop service from Hyderabad to Abu Dhabi staring on March 1, 2014.

Jet Airways flight 9W 550 departed Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Airport at 2025 and arrived in Abu Dhabi International Airport at 2310 (LT). On the return leg, the flight 9W 549 will depart Abu Dhabi at 1045 (LT) and arrive in Hyderabad at 1610.

Jet Airways currently operates a daily flight each from Delhi, Kochi and Chennai and 11 flights a week from Mumbai to Abu Dhabi.

The airline will deploy Boeing 737-800 aircraft on the new route.

Copyright Photo: Jay Selman/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 737-85R VT-JBF (msn 35082) arrives in Bangkok.

Jet Airways: 

Mandala Airlines (Tiger Airways Indonesia) (Jakarta) continues to lose money. As we previously reported, the airline was resurrected on April 5, 2012 as a joint venture between Tigerair (Singapore) (49%) and Saratoga Capital (51%) under the Tigerair brand. According to this report by Jakarta Post, Saratoga will continue to support the Indonesian carrier. There are unconfirmed reports that Tigerair will leave the joint venture.

Mandala suspended nine routes last month as it tries to cut its losses. The airline blamed high fuel costs.

Read the full report: CLICK HERE

Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A320-232 PK-RMQ (msn 5335) approaches the runway at Bangkok. Under the joint venture, Mandala removed its very colorful Mandala logo on the tail and instead adopted Tiger stripes on the tail. It is still operating under the Mandala name but under the Tigerair low-fare business plan.

Mandala Airlines: 

Current Tigerair routes:

SriLankan Airlines (Colombo) will become a full member of oneworld®, offering the alliance’s complete range ofservices and benefits with effect from Thursday May 1, 2014 – as the first carrier from the Indian subcontinent to become part of any global airline groups.

The national airline of Sri Lanka received clearance to board oneworld, the world’s leading quality airline alliance, after successfully completing a thorough review of its readiness conducted by Cathay Pacific Airways, which is sponsoring its entry into the alliance, with the oneworld central team.

Its addition to oneworld will come a month after the alliance welcomes TAM and US Airways on board, on March 31, concluding the group’s biggest yet expansion program.

SriLankan will bring two new destinations on to the oneworld network – Sri Lanka’s new Hambantota International and India’s Tiruchirapalli.

SriLankan already code-shares with oneworld members Malaysia Airlines and S7 Airlines with code-share agreements with a number of other oneworld partners at an advanced stage of discussion.

Copyright Photo: Jay Selman/AirlinersGallery.com. The Airbus A340s will be phased out and replaced by newer A330s by late 2015. The company also has seven A350-900s on order. Airbus A340-311 4R-ADB (msn 033) completes its final approach at Bangkok.

SriLankan Airlines: 

Japan Airlines-JAL (Tokyo) has announced it will operate charter flights departing from Tokyo (Haneda) to Rome and Milan (Malpensa) starting on July 2, 2014. The charter flights will be operated with Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners.

Schedule:

Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 787-8 JA822J (msn 34832) prepares to land in Bangkok.

JAL-Japan Airlines: 

City Airways (Bangkok-Don Mueang) resumed service to Hong Kong from Phuket on April 5 and Bangkok (Don Mueang) on April 12.

Schedule: CLICK HERE

City Airways Company Limited was established on February 24, 2011 with three Boeing 737-400s. The airline launched scheduled flights from Bangkok’s Don Mueang Airport to Chiang Mai and Phuket in Thailand.

Copyright Photo: Jacques Guillem Collection/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 737-4Y0 HS-GTA (msn 24688) is parked at the Don Mueang Airport base in Bangkok.

City Airways: 

SEAir-South East Asian Airlines (Tigerair Philippines) (Manila) has been approved by the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) to change its corporate name to Go Air, Inc. The SEAir name is being returned to the original owner according to the Business Mirror.

Read the full report: CLICK HERE

Cebu Pacific Air (Manila) acquired the low-fare airline from Tigerair and a decision is pending on the future operating name. The Tigerair brand is likely to be discontinued in the Philippines.

Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com. The Tiger stripes will soon be gone from SEAir aircraft. Airbus A319-132 RP-C4319 (msn 3757) arrives in Bangkok.

SEAir: 

Thai Airways International (Bangkok) has released this photo of its first Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner. The pictured HS-TQA (msn 35315) is being prepared for the handover at Boeing’s Paine Field plant.

According to the airline, in the beginning, the airline will operate the Boeing 787 on its flights TG 102, TG 103, TG 110, TG 111, TG 120 and TG 121 on the Bangkok-Chiang Mai-Bangkok route. The new type will also be operated on the Bangkok-Manila-Bangkok route on flights TG 620 and TG 621.

Copyright Photo: Thai Airways International.

Thai: 

Tigerair Group (Singapore), which controls 35.8 percent of the Mandala Airlines (Tigerair Mandala) stock, has decided to stop funding the loss-making Indonesian carrier. The company issued this statement:

PT Mandala Airlines deeply regrets to inform customers that its airline (operating under the brand-name of  Tigerair Mandala) will cease operations from July 1, 2014.

Customers who hold a flight booking with flight designator “RI” should note the following:

All Mandala flights from now to June 30, 2014 will operate as scheduled.

The last flight to be operated will be RI 545 on July 1, 2014, HKG-DPS departure time 0235.

All other flights operated by Mandala on July 1, 2014 and thereafter will be cancelled.

As a gesture of goodwill, the Tigerair Group will assist all affected customers with either a flight transfer to a TR flight if seats are available, or a refund for tickets booked for travel on July 1 or thereafter. Tigerair has no legal obligation or responsibility to do so. All legal obligations and responsibilities still rest with Mandala.

The Board and staff of Mandala wish to thank all customers for their support and sincerely apologize for any inconvenience caused.

Mandala Airlines originally started operations in February 1970 and was resurrected on April 5, 2012 under the assistance of Tigerair (Singapore).

Read the full report from Bloomberg Businessweek: CLICK HERE

Copyright Photo: Richard Vandervord/AirlinersGallery.com. Mandala Airlines’ Airbus A320-232 PK-RMP (msn 5073) with the Tigerair tail arrives at Bangkok.

Tigerair Mandala: 

Tigerair (Singapore): 

Thai Airways International (Bangkok) is now planning to introduce the first Boeing 787 service between Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi) and Chiang Mai on July 25 pending the delivery of the pictured 787-8 HS-TQA (msn 35315) per Airline Route.

Bangkok-Manila 787 service will begin on August 8 to be followed by Bangkok-Tokyo (Haneda) on September 1 and Bangkok-Perth on September 2.

All dates are subject to change depending on the deliveries.

Copyright Photo: Thai Airways.

Thai Airways: 

Bangkok Airways (Bangkok Air) (Bangkok) and the European turboprop aircraft manufacturer ATR are pleased to announce the signature of a contract for the purchase of three ATR 72-600s, valued at approximately USD24.6 million each (subject to negotiated discount). This deal represents the conversion into firm orders of the options included in the deal unveiled earlier this year at the Singapore Airshow (6 firm ATR 72-600s and two options), plus one additional aircraft.

With the acquisition of these new ATR 72-600s, the airline will bring to nine its total fleet of ATR 72-600s. The delivery of their first aircraft is scheduled for the fourth quarter of this year, while the 9th aircraft is expected to arrive into the airline’s fleet by the first quarter of 2017. With the introduction of their new ATR 72-600s, Bangkok Airways is further extending its long term partnership with ATR since the two companies have been cooperating for more than 20 years.

Copyright Photo: Richard Vandervord/AirlinersGallery.com.

Bangkok Air: 

Norwegian Long Haul (Norwegian Air Shuttle) (Norwegian.com) (Oslo) on October 30 will launch a new Boeing 787 route between Copenhagen and Hong Kong. The new route will operate twice a week. Norwegian already offers nonstop routes between Bangkok and both Oslo and Stockholm.

Norwegian will have a fleet of 17 Dreamliners, with seven currently in service and one more will be delivered in 2014.

Copyright Photo: Stefan Sjogren/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 787-8 EI-LNC (msn 34795) prepares to land in Stockholm (Arlanda).

Norwegian: 

Thai Smile Airways (Bangkok-Suvarnabhumi Airport-BKK) has announced it will move some of its routes to Don Mueang Airport (DMK) to better compete against its low fare rivals. Effective August 8 it will operate from DMK to Chiang Mai, Kohn Kaen and Phuket.

The airline issued this statement:

Thai Smile Airways will add services to and from Don Mueang Airport in order to provide more passenger convenience for travel to domestic destinations, effective August 8, 2014.

Thai Smile Airways (airline code WE) will operate initially to three domestic destinations from Don Mueang Airport.

Thai Smile Airways is offering special promotional fares for one-way travel to Chiang Mai and Khon Kaen with prices starting at 990 Baht, for one-way travel to Phuket with fares starting at 1,090 Baht.

Copyright Photo: Richard Vandervord/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A320-232 HS-TXE (msn 5436) departs from Phuket, Thailand.

Thai Smile: 

Route Map:

Ukraine International Airlines-UIA (Kiev) and other other Ukrainian airline have been banned by Russia from using Russian airspace in retaliation to sanctions by the European Union due to the on-going conflict between Russian-backed rebels in eastern Ukraine and the military of the Ukraine. Russia is reportedly considering restrictions on other European airlines for their trans-Siberian flights after Aeroflot’s subsidiary Dobrolet (2nd) (Moscow) was grounded by EU sanctions due to the Ukrainian conflict.

The airline issued this statement:

UIA is deeply concerned with destructive actions of the Russian authorities and their controversial stand on transit flights of Ukrainian airlines banned from transit over the Russian territory.

Russia’s unilateral actions of banning flights force UIA to significantly lengthen its air routes from Ukraine to the East. This will lead to increase in operating costs by 15-20%, as well as to flight delays, which will cause significant discomfort to passengers.

According to the Main Air Traffic Management Center of the Unified Air Traffic Management System of the Russian Federation, the Russian authorities refuse processing UIA’s application to perform flights from Kiev to Kazakhstan, Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan through permitted entry points to the airspace of the Russian Federation.

UIA informs that it is forced to operate flights on lengthened routes, and expresses apologies to all of its passengers and partners for the discomfort caused due to a fault of the Russian authorities.

The company is deeply concerned about the fact that the Russian authorities are trying to use air transport as a tool for political pressure, cynically ignoring the interests of thousands of citizens from dozens of countries being the UIA passengers.

Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com. Former United Airlines Boeing 767-322 ER UR-GEA (msn 25280) arrives in Bangkok.

Ukraine International: 

V Air (Taipei) intends to launch low-fare services from Taipei in the last quarter of 2014. The first route will be between Taipei (Taoyuan) and Bangkok (Don Mueang) according to Want China Times with A321-200s leased from its parent, TransAsia Airways (Taipei).

The airline’s fleet will consist at first of three A321 aircraft and will be expanded by two additional aircraft each year.

A model of the A321 in the bear color scheme.

According to the airline, The bear was chosen by the public in January to represent the airline, the smiling bear embodies all of the elements of “positive energy” needed by a new company entering the market: voyage, vision, vitality, and victory.

Images: V Air.

City Airways (Bangkok-Don Mueang) was grounded on Saturday, August 16, stranding passengers. The Thai airline, which was formed in 2011 started operations in October 2012 and specialized in flights from and to Chinese cities, was grounded by the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) for alleged safety violations.

Stranded passengers are being flown home by R Airways.

According to the South China Morning Post, co-owner Terence Mak Hung claimed the airline was safe and hilt back at the Thai authorities.

Read the full article: CLICK HERE

Company Profile (from their website):

City Airways Company, Ltd was established on February 24, 2011. The airline, incorporated with 200 million baht of capital, focused on the China market, is spreading its wings by adding three jetliners and launching its first scheduled domestic flights. City Airways, owned by a group of Thai, Chinese tour firms and Hong Kong airline owner, took delivery of three Boeing 737-400 single-aisle jets.

Top Copyright Photo: Jacques Guillem Collection/AirlinersGallery.com (all others by City Airways). Boeing 737-4Y0 HS-GTA (man 24688) rests at the Don Mueang Airport base between flights.

City Airways Ad:

Route Map:

NokScoot (NokScoot Company) (Bangkok-Don Mueang) as previously reported, is the new joint venture between budget airline Scoot (Singapore) (49%) and Nok Air (Bangkok) (51%). The new airline will commence scheduled low-fare flights from Bangkok’s downtown Don Mueang International Airport in the first quarter of 2015 with three Boeing 777-200s.

The airline has issued its new logo (above).

The joint venture describes its business plan:

NokScoot isn’t just like any other run-of-the-mill low-cost carriers – we don’t just provide low travel fares, we also provide an enjoyable flying experience. So our passengers never have to compromise on their experience when they are travelling with us.

NokScoot puts the fun back into budget travel and NokScoot gets our passengers to wherever they want to, in the way that they want to. And because they get to choose and customise their own travel experience, our passengers don’t just fly. They fly awesome.

Meanwhile Scoot has announced its planned Boeing 787-9 routes for 2015. The airline will operate the new type to Bangkok-Don Mueang (from April 27), Gold Coast (April 28), Hong Kong (from March 29) Perth (March 29), Qingdao (May 26), Shenyang (May 26), Sydney (March 29) and Tianjin (May 25) per Airline Route.