Bangkok Airways Selects A350 For New Long Range Services

BANGKOK: -- Bangkok Airways is planning to acquire six Airbus A350s for its new long-range services from Thailand to Europe commencing 2012.

This decision by Bangkok Airways takes total firm orders and commitments for the new Airbus A350 to 170 aircraft from 13 customers, a statement from Airbus said here Tuesday.

Bangkok Airways currently operates a fleet of seventeen jet and turboprop aircraft on a network of services to exotic tourist destinations in Thailand and across Asia.

The fleet includes three leased A320s, which are deployed on services from Bangkok to destinations in China and Japan.

"Having taken into account all competitive and economic factors, we decided to choose the Airbus A350 wide-body aircraft for our future expansion into the long-haul market," the statement said, quoting Dr Prasert Prasarttong-Osoth, Chairman and Chief Executive of Bangkok Airways.

"Commonality with our Airbus A320 fleet was one of the key drivers in our decision making process. We are also extremely impressed by the innovative cabin features, which will support our long term strategy to feed passengers with outstanding high comfort from Europe into our new home at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok and fly them to unique world-famous, cultural and holiday destinations in Thailand and the region," he said.

Bangkok Airways has selected a comfortable two-class interior with 258 seats, each equipped with individual video entertainment, including 36 lie-flat beds in Premium Class and 222 seats in Economy Class.

The airline is expected to announce its engine choice at a later date, the statement said.

Airbus is an EADS joint company with BAE Systems.

-- bernama.com.my 2006-01-03

It's always good to see extra competition on these routes, let's hope the pricing is competitive (unlikely with Bangkok Airways), or they try direct flights from CNX or HKT.

On the other hand - it's all still several years away from actually happening

It's always good to see extra competition on these routes, let's hope the pricing is competitive (unlikely with Bangkok Airways), or they try direct flights from CNX or HKT.

It will be interesting to see what actual routes Bangkok Airways has in mind. Their gameplan hasn't been to offer additional competition on otherwise busy routes so I can't imagine that they are thinking of say, BKK-LHR.

It's always good to see extra competition on these routes, let's hope the pricing is competitive (unlikely with Bangkok Airways), or they try direct flights from CNX or HKT.

It will be interesting to see what actual routes Bangkok Airways has in mind. Their gameplan hasn't been to offer additional competition on otherwise busy routes so I can't imagine that they are thinking of say, BKK-LHR.

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Samui-LHR non-stop ? Lovely thought But I can't really see it getting off the ground (the plane , I mean, with full load & fuel for 12-13 hours, from Samui's delightful little airport)

It's always good to see extra competition on these routes, let's hope the pricing is competitive (unlikely with Bangkok Airways), or they try direct flights from CNX or HKT.

On the other hand  -  it's all still several years away from actually happening 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

If Bangkok Airways wants to fly the Europe-BKK routes they will HAVE to be competitive, they can get away with charging silly money BKK-Samui because they have no competition, Europe-BKK is VERY competitive.

I hope that CNX-Europe comes off one day, it will save a lot of people a bit of time and, hopefully, money. A few years ago Thai Air flew CNX-UK but the fare was around £900 economy return, probably why they stopped it.

It's always good to see extra competition on these routes, let's hope the pricing is competitive (unlikely with Bangkok Airways), or they try direct flights from CNX or HKT.

On the other hand  -  it's all still several years away from actually happening 

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Although still several years away some how I don't see them getting slots at LHR. Far more likely BKK-LGW taking over the ill fated Phuket Air service.

TBWG