Thai Smile to triple its international operation in 2016 as Thai grows its int'l network

[stander]

Thai Airways' regional full service subsidiary Thai Smile plans to launch 10 international routes by the end of 2016 and expand its international network from only four to 15 destinations. The expansion is made possible as Thai Smile takes over all four of the A320s currently operated by Thai Airways and improves the utilisation of its existing 16 aircraft.

Chandigarh in India and Jieyang and Zhengzhou in China will be new destinations for Thai Smile and the Thai Airways Group. Thai Smile is also taking over two other Indian destinations from Thai Airways – Gaya and Varanasi – along with one other in China, Chongqing. Thai Smile will also start operating alongside Thai Airways to Penang in Malaysia, Phnom Penh in Cambodia and Vientiane in Laos.

http://centreforaviation.com/analysis/thai-airways-regional-connectivity-part-3-thai-smile-to-launch-chandigarh-jieyang--zhengzhou-281054

[KhunBENQ]

Hopefully they will offer a schedule to Vientiane better suited for visa runners than the AirAsia flights from July 1 (arr. 13:25h, dep. 14:15h ).

[Mooner]

Lion air works for visa runners. In udon by 7am

[KhunBENQ]

Lion air works for visa runners. In udon by 7am

Correct.

Just that Vientiane is so much more convenient.

Flying over the crowds at the bridge

Edited May 16, 2016 by KhunBENQ

[KhunBENQ]

Sounds like they want their piece of the new tourists?

Chandigarh, Jieyang, Zhengzhou, Gaya, Varanasi, Chongqing?

Except the last one I could bet I never even noticed these place names.

Edited May 16, 2016 by KhunBENQ

[joy16]

Sounds like they want their piece of the new tourists?

Chandigarh, Jieyang, Zhengzhou, Gaya, Varanasi, Chongqing?

Except the last one I could bet I never even noticed these place names.

Gaya and Varanasi are popular places among Thais (Buddhists) and TG has seasonal flights for these places every year.

Edited May 19, 2016 by joy16