Thai Lion Air charts rapid growth path

[Lite Beer]

Thai Lion Air charts rapid growth path

 

BANGKOK: -- According to a report today in the Bankgok Post No-frills carrier Thai Lion Air (TLA) has resumed its aggressive growth plan with the launch of new routes and the addition of two jetliners. TLA, part of Indonesia’s Lion Air group, will at the end of next month start five domestic routes, four of them from its Don Mueang base to Udon Thani, Krabi, Phuket and Surat Thani and one from Hat Yai to Udon Thani.

The new routes come as TLA is due to take delivery of two brand-new Boeing 737-900ERs just ahead of the launch of the new routes, raising the total fleet to six. Its revived growth plan is geared towards towards matching robust post-coup travel demand in the fourth quarter. Sales and marketing manager Numpon Rungsawang yesterday said overall Thai travel demand could leap 20% year-on-year.

The low-cost carrier (LCC) sector is growing rapidly, making it timely for TLA to begin its network again, he said. The airline will offer two flights a day on the Bangkok-Udon Thani and Bangkok-Surat Thani routes, a daily service on the Bangkok-Krabi and Bangkok-Phuket routes and three flights a week from Hat Yai-Udon Thani.

TLA will also maintain its current jet services – seven daily flight each on Bangkok- Chiang Mai and Bangkok – Hat Yai and daily Bangkok – Jakarta flight.

The airlines operates frequent scheduled flights from Hat Yai to Surat Thani and Hua Hin as well as Medan, Indonesia, all using ATR 72-600 turboprop.

Mr Numpon said TLA was mulling flights from Bangkok to southern China by the end of this year or early next as it revives its regional expansion with Shenzhen, Wuhan and Quanzhou on the radar.

In March, TLA began to rationalize its service following a plunge in foreign passenger traffic caused by the political unrest in Thailand. The LCC, which took to the skies last December, reduced its international trunk jet services and focused on domestic flights whose demand was less affected.

It slashed the frequency on its two main international routes – Bangkok –Kuala Lumphur and Bangkok – Jakarta – in response to weak demand despite heavily discounted fares.

The Bangkok –Kuala Lumpur service was subsequently suspended, as Lion Group decided to let Malindo Air, a Malaysian carrier 49% owned by Lion, take over the rout from April 24th

 

 

--Samui Times 2014-08-09

[Ricardo]

This is the real competition to Thai Air Asia, not THAI !

[MadMac]

Used them yesterday again to CNX. Brand new planes, timely service. Cheaper than AirAsia, well not exactly yesterday as all was full :).

 

[Ricardo]

We've used them several times on CNX-DMK, they're good so far.

 

Hopefully once they have routes from DMK to places like Phuket & Krabi, they may then start to link direct between Thailand's major secondary-cities ?

 

THAI used to force us to go via Bangkok, then Thai Air Asia demonstrated that routes bypassing there could work, now the newbie can help push that trend.

 

It will also be interesting to see how quickly they start international-links from Phuket or Chiang Mai, to their traditional bases, or the growing market to China ?

 

And their business-model, ultra-low-cost with-basic-luggage, can they undercut Air Asia and still make money ?

 

Happy times for consumers !

[Cereal]

Lion Air was recently adjudged the most dangerous airline in the world by 

Hamburg-based Jet Airliner Crash Data Evaluation Centre (JACDEC) .

 

I would avoid them. For now, at least.

[rajyindee]

We've used them several times on CNX-DMK, they're good so far.

 

Hopefully once they have routes from DMK to places like Phuket & Krabi, they may then start to link direct between Thailand's major secondary-cities ?

 

They've already announced Hat Yai-Udon Thani.

[phanu]

60 on 60...
I will not use this airlines to
Too many accidents...

[canarysun]

Fantastic Airline! I flew with them up to Chiang Mai a few weeks ago for just 600 baht ( inc 15 kg of free luggage ) nice pleasant service.I would normally take the train at 231 baht but Thai Lion Air do have some fantastic prices! ( it should also be noted viewers that when booking online with Thai Lion Air you can then pay for your ticket at the customer service desk of Tesco Lotus ( They charge a 7 baht fee ) 

 

farang jaidee 

[Maroon Watcher]

AND a connecting flight through SAMUI -

to give Bangkok airways a shock!

 

WHY is there a Monopoly for Samui anyway - who paid who...?

 

There must be enough numbers in high season...

 

But then again, forget it - the place would be over run with "jet skies"

 

We've used them several times on CNX-DMK, they're good so far.

 

Hopefully once they have routes from DMK to places like Phuket & Krabi, they may then start to link direct between Thailand's major secondary-cities ?

 

THAI used to force us to go via Bangkok, then Thai Air Asia demonstrated that routes bypassing there could work, now the newbie can help push that trend.

 

It will also be interesting to see how quickly they start international-links from Phuket or Chiang Mai, to their traditional bases, or the growing market to China ?

 

And their business-model, ultra-low-cost with-basic-luggage, can they undercut Air Asia and still make money ?

 

Happy times for consumers !

 

[Ricardo]

WHY is there a Monopoly for Samui anyway - who paid who...?

 

Samui airport was privately-built, and is privately-owned, thus there are limits on who else is allowed to use it. 

[Totster]

 

WHY is there a Monopoly for Samui anyway - who paid who...?

 

Samui airport was privately-built, and is privately-owned, thus there are limits on who else is allowed to use it. 

 

 

Owned and built by Bangkok Airways.

 

 

totster :)

[SeaVisionBurma]

I flew Thai Lion Air from DMK to Jakarta (CGK) recently - brand new 737-900 aircraft, comfortable flight and friendly flight attendants.

 

The only downside was the check-in procedure.  Myself and my travelling companion were fine, as we arrived just before a long queue formed.

The check in process took quite a long time, with only two counters open (plenty of staff, but very few of them actually manning open counters).  Put it down to early days.

 

Overall a plus - always good to have more competition on these routes.

 

Reading comments above on their safety record, and I can understand the trepidation with this, but in this case it is a new Thailand based offshoot, with brand new aircraft and newly trained crew.  I have no concerns about flying with Thai Lion for those reasons.

[CNXBKKMAN]

Lion Air have already landed one of their brand new aircraft in the sea short of Bali airport. The latest hi-tec Boeing is not waterproof.

[Archie Pelago]

Lion Air have already landed one of their brand new aircraft in the sea short of Bali airport. The latest hi-tec Boeing is not waterproof.

That was Lion Air, the Indonesian parent, not Thai Lion Air.  Different model aircraft, and hardly the fault of Boeing.  Preliminary accident report pointed the finger at pilot error from memory.

[sambum]

Couldn't agree more - something needs to be done about Bangkok "Rip Off" Air - maybe the same kind of action meted out to the "Taxi Mafia"!!!

AND a connecting flight through SAMUI -

to give Bangkok airways a shock!

 

WHY is there a Monopoly for Samui anyway - who paid who...?

 

There must be enough numbers in high season...

 

But then again, forget it - the place would be over run with "jet skies"

 

We've used them several times on CNX-DMK, they're good so far.

 

Hopefully once they have routes from DMK to places like Phuket & Krabi, they may then start to link direct between Thailand's major secondary-cities ?

 

THAI used to force us to go via Bangkok, then Thai Air Asia demonstrated that routes bypassing there could work, now the newbie can help push that trend.

 

It will also be interesting to see how quickly they start international-links from Phuket or Chiang Mai, to their traditional bases, or the growing market to China ?

 

And their business-model, ultra-low-cost with-basic-luggage, can they undercut Air Asia and still make money ?

 

Happy times for consumers !

 

 

[CNXBKKMAN]

Lion Air have already landed one of their brand new aircraft in the sea short of Bali airport. The latest hi-tec Boeing is not waterproof.

That was Lion Air, the Indonesian parent, not Thai Lion Air.  Different model aircraft, and hardly the fault of Boeing.  Preliminary accident report pointed the finger at pilot error from memory.

Your right it's not Boeings fault but a poorly trained Lion Air pilot. Lion Air is not a top airline for safety as their record proves. Lion Air Indonesia, Lion Air Thailand and Lion Air Malaysia is all Lion Air.

[Ricardo]

 

 

WHY is there a Monopoly for Samui anyway - who paid who...?

 

Samui airport was privately-built, and is privately-owned, thus there are limits on who else is allowed to use it. 

 

 

Owned and built by Bangkok Airways.

 

 

totster

 

 

IIRC they also built/improved Phitsanulok and/or Sukhotai airports, on a similar basis, at about the same time, I recall them flying ATRs from CNX to DMK with a stop en-route.

 

But it has definitely been the Bangkok-Samui route, which has been the basis of their success, over the years.

 

[Captor]

AND a connecting flight through SAMUI -

to give Bangkok airways a shock!

 

WHY is there a Monopoly for Samui anyway - who paid who...?

 

There must be enough numbers in high season...

 

But then again, forget it - the place would be over run with "jet skies"

 

We've used them several times on CNX-DMK, they're good so far.

 

Hopefully once they have routes from DMK to places like Phuket & Krabi, they may then start to link direct between Thailand's major secondary-cities ?

 

THAI used to force us to go via Bangkok, then Thai Air Asia demonstrated that routes bypassing there could work, now the newbie can help push that trend.

 

It will also be interesting to see how quickly they start international-links from Phuket or Chiang Mai, to their traditional bases, or the growing market to China ?

 

And their business-model, ultra-low-cost with-basic-luggage, can they undercut Air Asia and still make money ?

 

Happy times for consumers !

 

I agree with you. I am waiting for that as well. I have hear that Bangkok Airways is owner of the airport at Samui. Can that be the reason no one except Thai is flying to Samui?

[Captor]

 

 

WHY is there a Monopoly for Samui anyway - who paid who...?

 

Samui airport was privately-built, and is privately-owned, thus there are limits on who else is allowed to use it. 

 

 

Owned and built by Bangkok Airways.

 

 

totster

 

 

Right! I gues that is the reason for higjt prices and few airways to Samui.