BANGKOK, Thailand: Eight new Thai airlines are poised to start operations as the tourism-reliant nation expects a sustained recovery in leisure travel to draw about 35 million foreign visitors in 2024.
Really Cool Airlines, which plans to offer scheduled services on medium-to long-haul international routes, is among the companies that have received approval from Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit for an operator’s license, according to the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand.
Carriers were also allowed to import a total of 60 aircraft, it said in a statement.
The new operators will compete with carriers including Thai Airways International, which is firming up an order for up to 80 planes from Boeing, and Asia Aviation for a share of the more than 130 million passengers expected to travel through the country’s six main airports in 2024.
Foreign tourist arrivals more than doubled to 28 million in 2023 after Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin’s administration lifted visa requirements for travelers from key markets such as China and India.
Founded by Mr Patee Sarasin, former chief executive of budget carrier Nok Airlines, Really Cool Airlines will launch charter flights in March. It plans to initially operate flights to Japan and aims to serve other Asian destinations such as Hong Kong, Singapore and Shanghai within the first two years, Mr Patee said in November 2023.
Other airlines planning to start operations in 2024 include Pattaya Airways, Asian Aerospace Services, Avanti Air Sarter, Siam Seaplane and Asia Atlantic Airlines, The Nation newspaper reported.
