Transport Bangkok Airways Halts Key Routes Amid Fleet Overhaul

[snoop1130]

Photo courtesy of Matichon

 

Starting October 26, Bangkok Airways will temporarily suspend flights between Suvarnabhumi International Airport and Lampang. This move also affects the Bangkok to Mae Hong Son route, set to pause from July 1.

 

The airline cites fleet maintenance and commercial reasons for the suspensions, aiming to improve long-term operations. Despite this, Bangkok Airways reassures customers that alternative travel options will remain available.

 

Lampang and Mae Hong Son are popular destinations, and these routes are crucial for both local residents and tourists. The suspension has sparked concern over travel convenience, as the airline has played an essential role in linking these regions to the rest of Thailand for years.

 

A spokesperson for Bangkok Airways stated, "These suspensions are temporary and necessary for focusing on fleet maintenance and addressing commercial factors."

 

The impact is significant for Lampang, known for its rich culture and history, making it a favorite among tourists. The suspension might affect tourism and local economies by reducing accessibility. Likewise, the Mae Hong Son route is vital for locals, who will have to seek alternatives starting in July.

 

In positive news, Thai AirAsia will continue flights between Bangkok and Lampang, providing a travel option for affected passengers. This ensures continued connectivity between these cities despite the suspension.

 

Bangkok Airways is committed to resuming these services as soon as possible and continues to focus on its other routes both domestically and internationally. Passengers with existing bookings are advised to contact the airline for rebooking and updates.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Thaiger 2025-06-26

 

 

[ronster]

18 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Despite this, Bangkok Airways reassures customers that alternative travel options will remain available.

Can they provide an alternative from bkk to samui then ??

Just returned from samui and one way flight in morning was 5800bht , the first flight out was 6800 😳

So much for them adding more flights and making it cheaper. Utter rip off when compared to any other flight in Thailand.

[Burma Bill]

19 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Lampang and Mae Hong Son are popular destinations, and these routes are crucial for both local residents and tourists

 

Perhaps not enough passengers?

 

Lampang Airport currently has just four flights per day - 3 Bangkok Airways (with International code share) from BKK and Mae Hong Son  and one Thai Air Asia from DMK. So, in the future Lampang Airport will only have one flight per day and Mae Hong Son none? So much for "crucial for local residents and tourists"!  

 

Arrivals

Scheduled	Revised	From	Flight	Status
09:50	09:44	Bangkok (BKK)	Bangkok Airways PG 203 Codeshare: CI 9603 / EK 4466 / EY 7633 / JL 5977 / PR 3708 / QF 3450 / QR 4337 / SQ 5423 / TG 5683 / TK 4447 / WY 5869	Arrived On-Time
12:25	12:36	Bangkok (DMK)	Thai AirAsia FD 3923	Arrived On-Time
15:05	15:28	Bangkok (BKK)	Bangkok Airways PG 205 Codeshare: AY 6933 / CI 9605 / EY 7668 / KL 3980 / QF 3485 / QR 4430 / SQ 5425 / TG 5685 / TK 4443	23 minutes late
17:55	17:58	Mae Hong Son (HGN)	Bangkok Airways PG 206 Codeshare: AY 6860 / EY 7615	On-Time

[fonzo]

2 hours ago, ronster said:

Can they provide an alternative from bkk to samui then ??

Just returned from samui and one way flight in morning was 5800bht , the first flight out was 6800 😳

So much for them adding more flights and making it cheaper. Utter rip off when compared to any other flight in Thailand.

Take the train/bus

[ronster]

13 hours ago, fonzo said:

Take the train/bus

Bit hard in a wheelchair 

[NanLaew]

19 hours ago, ronster said:

Can they provide an alternative from bkk to samui then ??

Just returned from samui and one way flight in morning was 5800bht , the first flight out was 6800 😳

So much for them adding more flights and making it cheaper. Utter rip off when compared to any other flight in Thailand.

 

Bangkok Airways own the airport on Samui so no, their unfair monopoly will be allowed to persist.

 

2 hours ago, ronster said:

Bit hard in a wheelchair 

 

Hard yes, but not impossible.

[ronster]

22 minutes ago, NanLaew said:

Hard yes, but not impossible

Pretty sure there are zero buses for travelling bkk to samui , Phuket etc that accommodate people in wheelchairs.

Around towns and city maybe but otherwise forget it . 

Would also be pretty sure that even if you got on a train in a wheelchair then you ain't going to have an accessible toilet.

[NanLaew]

22 minutes ago, ronster said:

Would also be pretty sure that even if you got on a train in a wheelchair then you ain't going to have an accessible toilet.

 

https://www.thaitrainguide.com/2024/04/06/special-2nd-class-carriage-with-wheelchair-lift-and-accessible-toilets-on-trang-route-in-april/

 

https://fanclubthailand.co.uk/advice-for-disabled-travellers-visiting-thailand/

 

https://web.facebook.com/groups/asiantrainguide/posts/605375055359430/?_rdc=1&_rdr

[ronster]

1 hour ago, NanLaew said:

 

https://www.thaitrainguide.com/2024/04/06/special-2nd-class-carriage-with-wheelchair-lift-and-accessible-toilets-on-trang-route-in-april/

 

https://fanclubthailand.co.uk/advice-for-disabled-travellers-visiting-thailand/

 

https://web.facebook.com/groups/asiantrainguide/posts/605375055359430/?_rdc=1&_rdr

While the toilet looks fine I'm pretty sure that my chair is much wider than that door to get on the train , the bags opposite toilet stop any movement around the corridor, I certainly wouldn't be sitting on that silver fold down thing on the wall if that's what it is opposite the toilet and it doesn't show what the main seating area is . Then factor in that if I wanted to get a train to surathanni and then say go to samui I know for a fact that a taxi to samui will charge me 4-5000bht one way . 

Will stick to getting ripped off by bandit airways or just fly to Vietnam for 3-4000 return from bkk 👍