SET-listed Bangkok Airways Plc plans to add more routes to Myanmar, Vietnam and China by the final quarter of this year to cope with rising demand during the high season.
President Puttipong Prasarttong-Osoth said the airline expects to open a new route between Bangkok and Nha Trang, Vietnam sometime during the winter season.
Bangkok Airways also hopes to launch a new route between Phuket and Yangon, Myanmar.
The company is further targeting the Chinese market by working with travel agents in preparation for charter flights between Koh Samui and Xian and Changsha.
Further details on flight times, aircraft and fares for the new services will be finalised in the near future, he said.
"Bangkok Airways is set to expand its network in the region, particularly in Myanmar, Vietnam and China, because there will be high demand during the peak season from October until early 2019," said Mr Puttipong.
In March, the company launched a daily flight service from Chiang Mai to Hanoi, Vietnam using the 70-seater ATR72-500/600 aircraft.
The airline later announced additional flights between Bangkok and Mandalay, Myanmar, up to 11 weekly flights to serve increasing demand.
These additional services will be effective from July 1.
Bangkok Airways operates flights to 18 destinations in nine countries: Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam, China, India, Singapore, Malaysia and the Maldives.
The airline also flies to 12 destinations domestically.
Mr Puttipong said the Thai tourism industry is set to grow significantly in 2018.
"Many foreigners will come to Thailand this year," he said.
In order to deal with the expected increase in travellers, Bangkok Airways expects to receive four new aircraft -- two Airbus A319s and two ATR 600s -- this year.
The airline is also scheduled to receive two more ATR 600s next year.
"Having more aircraft will help increase seat [capacity] during the high season, meeting growing demand," said Mr Puttipong.
Bangkok Airways struck an exclusive deal for four of its old ATR 500s. The company will trade the old aircraft back to the manufacturer as part of its deal to purchase four new ATR 600 models.
The airline is rumoured to have secured a huge discount from ATR for the trade-in.
Mr Puttipong said the markdown is not more than half of the market price.
The airline is one of the first to have secured such a trade-back deal with ATR, he said.
In related news, Mr Puttipong said the company also plans to renovate Samui airport, which will take 1½ years to complete.
Last year, Bangkok Airways earned 800 million baht in profit, down from the 1.68 billion it fetched in 2016.
The airline attributed the drop to the amended tax on jet fuel and lubricant oil, which came into force in January 2017, resulting in higher fuel costs for the industry.
The tax adjustment forced the airline to increase its domestic fares by 200 baht per person per flight since February 2017.
Bangkok Airways has plans to raise fares this year, while instituting more effective cost management measures to generate greater profits.
