Korat To Fly Again When Airport Reopens In December

[webfact]

Korat To Fly Again When Airport Reopens In December

By Sasiwan Mokkhasen, Staff Reporter

 

  

Photo: New Gen Airways / Courtesy

 

NAKHON RATCHASIMA — Two years after its last flight departed, a northeastern regional airport will reopen for domestic flights, officials announced Tuesday.

 

All flights at the Nakhon Ratchasima airport will be operated by Thai carrier New Gen Airways, which for four years has flown only routes between Thailand and China. The first domestic routes will connect Nakhon Ratchasima, known widely as Korat, with Chiang Mai in the north and Phuket in the south.

 

Full story: http://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/business/2017/10/04/korat-fly-airport-reopens-december/

 

-- © Copyright Khaosod English 2017-10-04

[NanLaew]

Anyone want to reconfirm their AOC status?

Edited October 4, 2017 by NanLaew

[KhunBENQ]

2 hours ago, NanLaew said:

Anyone want to reconfirm their AOC status?

 

If that is what you refer to?

 

http://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/transpo/2017/09/05/13-airlines-blocked-flying-abroad-await-judgment/

 

Quote

The most familiar carriers are among the nine airlines which passed and received international certification: Thai Airways, Bangkok Airways, Thai AirAsia, Thai AirAsia X, NokScoot, Nok Air, Thai Smile Airways, Thai Lion Air and New Gen Airways.

 

Oldest plane I found in their fleet is almost 29 years old

[NanLaew]

19 hours ago, KhunBENQ said:

 

If that is what you refer to?

 

http://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/transpo/2017/09/05/13-airlines-blocked-flying-abroad-await-judgment/

 

 

Oldest plane I found in their fleet is almost 29 years old

I admit that I didn't have time to search for that same link that I had already posted in another AOC-specific thread a few weeks back when everyone the usual suspects were convinced that THAI were flying illegally.

 

Yes, New Gen already had their AOC renewed along with the main players last month.

 

Since they primarily serve secondary Chinese destinations, discovering that they have at least one old banger in the fleet is something for prospective Korat passengers to consider. Any information of their fleet's average age?

[KhunBENQ]

Average fleet age 17.8 years.

https://www.planespotters.net/airline/NewGen-Airways

 

Their Boeing 737-800's are not that old, but their Boeing 737-400's

[Chongalulu]

Any opinions on the levels of service re likely number of flights per day- is this more of the one flight per day scenario. I've always wondered why,given the size of Korat,why no commercial airport- presumably as it's a lousy tourist destination = no demand- so why now?

[NanLaew]

1 hour ago, nchuckle said:

Any opinions on the levels of service re likely number of flights per day- is this more of the one flight per day scenario. I've always wondered why,given the size of Korat,why no commercial airport- presumably as it's a lousy tourist destination = no demand- so why now?

I would think 2/day each way for starters.

 

It's not the size of Korat that matters but its (unfortunate) location so close to Bangkok. Over the years (but not recently), the route was sporadically served by a small outfits using small planes like Cessna's and possibly Swaeringens. Unless doing a stopover (from China?) I doubt that any 737's will be economical on that route so maybe New Gen are considering getting some small turbo-props?

 

However, with high-speed trains for less than 600 baht in 4 years time, any air service will be short-lived.

[Chongalulu]

7 hours ago, NanLaew said:

I would think 2/day each way for starters.

 

It's not the size of Korat that matters but its (unfortunate) location so close to Bangkok. Over the years (but not recently), the route was sporadically served by a small outfits using small planes like Cessna's and possibly Swaeringens. Unless doing a stopover (from China?) I doubt that any 737's will be economical on that route so maybe New Gen are considering getting some small turbo-props?

 

However, with high-speed trains for less than 600 baht in 4 years time, any air service will be short-lived.

All good points,thanks, and given the smaller volume and no competition I guess we'll not be seeing Air Asia type fares either.

[KhunBENQ]

9 hours ago, NanLaew said:

However, with high-speed trains for less than 600 baht in 4 years time, any air service will be short-lived.

I am not aware about high speed trains to Phuket or Chiang Mai (the planned routes) any soon (from Korat).

There is no word about Korat to Bangkok.

[Chongalulu]

19 hours ago, KhunBENQ said:

I am not aware about high speed trains to Phuket or Chiang Mai (the planned routes) any soon (from Korat).

There is no word about Korat to Bangkok.

I think the point is that the current 4 hour coach journey (or worse) korat Bangkok replaced by a reliable 1.25 hour high speed train journey to access cheaper more frequent Bangkok to Chiangmai or Phuket flights could on balance work out better than say only two flights per day Korat to those destinations.