Tag Archives: Bangkok

Bangkok Air orders three ATR 72-600s

Bangkok Airways (Bangkok Air) (Bangkok) and the European turboprop aircraft manufacturer ATR are pleased to announce the signature of a contract for the purchase of three ATR 72-600s, valued at approximately USD24.6 million each (subject to negotiated discount). This deal represents the conversion into firm orders of the options included in the deal unveiled earlier this year at the Singapore Airshow (6 firm ATR 72-600s and two options), plus one additional aircraft.

With the acquisition of these new ATR 72-600s, the airline will bring to nine its total fleet of ATR 72-600s. The delivery of their first aircraft is scheduled for the fourth quarter of this year, while the 9th aircraft is expected to arrive into the airline’s fleet by the first quarter of 2017. With the introduction of their new ATR 72-600s, Bangkok Airways is further extending its long term partnership with ATR since the two companies have been cooperating for more than 20 years.

Bangkok Air:

Thai to introduce the Boeing 787 now on July 25

Thai Airways International (Bangkok) is now planning to introduce the first Boeing 787 service between Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi) and Chiang Mai on July 25 pending the delivery of the pictured 787-8 HS-TQA (msn 35315) per Airline Route.

Bangkok-Manila 787 service will begin on August 8 to be followed by Bangkok-Tokyo (Haneda) on September 1 and Bangkok-Perth on September 2.

All dates are subject to change depending on the deliveries.

Thai Airways:

Mandala Airlines to be shut down on July 1, Tigerair pulls the funding

Tigerair Group (Singapore), which controls 35.8 percent of the Mandala Airlines (Tigerair Mandala) stock, has decided to stop funding the loss-making Indonesian carrier. The company issued this statement:

PT Mandala Airlines deeply regrets to inform customers that its airline (operating under the brand-name of Tigerair Mandala) will cease operations from July 1, 2014.

Customers who hold a flight booking with flight designator “RI” should note the following:

All Mandala flights from now to June 30, 2014 will operate as scheduled.

The last flight to be operated will be RI 545 on July 1, 2014, HKG-DPS departure time 0235.

All other flights operated by Mandala on July 1, 2014 and thereafter will be cancelled.

As a gesture of goodwill, the Tigerair Group will assist all affected customers with either a flight transfer to a TR flight if seats are available, or a refund for tickets booked for travel on July 1 or thereafter. Tigerair has no legal obligation or responsibility to do so. All legal obligations and responsibilities still rest with Mandala.

The Board and staff of Mandala wish to thank all customers for their support and sincerely apologize for any inconvenience caused.

Mandala Airlines originally started operations in February 1970 and was resurrected on April 5, 2012 under the assistance of Tigerair (Singapore).

Read the full report from Bloomberg Businessweek: CLICK HERE

Copyright Photo: Richard Vandervord/AirlinersGallery.com. Mandala Airlines’ Airbus A320-232 PK-RMP (msn 5073) with the Tigerair tail arrives at Bangkok.

Tigerair Mandala:

Tigerair (Singapore):

Thai releases a photo of its first Boeing 787-8

Thai Airways International (Bangkok) has released this photo of its first Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner. The pictured HS-TQA (msn 35315) is being prepared for the handover at Boeing’s Paine Field plant.

According to the airline, in the beginning, the airline will operate the Boeing 787 on its flights TG 102, TG 103, TG 110, TG 111, TG 120 and TG 121 on the Bangkok-Chiang Mai-Bangkok route. The new type will also be operated on the Bangkok-Manila-Bangkok route on flights TG 620 and TG 621.

Thai:

SEAir (Tigerair Philippines) to change its name to Go Air, Inc.

SEAir-South East Asian Airlines (Tigerair Philippines) (Manila) has been approved by the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) to change its corporate name to Go Air, Inc. The SEAir name is being returned to the original owner according to the Business Mirror.

Read the full report: CLICK HERE

Cebu Pacific Air (Manila) acquired the low-fare airline from Tigerair and a decision is pending on the future operating name. The Tigerair brand is likely to be discontinued in the Philippines.

Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com. The Tiger stripes will soon be gone from SEAir aircraft. Airbus A319-132 RP-C4319 (msn 3757) arrives in Bangkok.

SEAir:

City Airways resumes services to Hong Kong

City Airways (Bangkok-Don Mueang) resumed service to Hong Kong from Phuket on April 5 and Bangkok (Don Mueang) on April 12.

Schedule: CLICK HERE

City Airways Company Limited was established on February 24, 2011 with three Boeing 737-400s. The airline launched scheduled flights from Bangkok’s Don Mueang Airport to Chiang Mai and Phuket in Thailand.

Copyright Photo: Jacques Guillem Collection/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 737-4Y0 HS-GTA (msn 24688) is parked at the Don Mueang Airport base in Bangkok.

City Airways:

Japan Airlines to start charter flights to Rome and Milan from Haneda Airport on July 2

Japan Airlines-JAL (Tokyo) has announced it will operate charter flights departing from Tokyo (Haneda) to Rome and Milan (Malpensa) starting on July 2, 2014. The charter flights will be operated with Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners.

Schedule:

JAL-Japan Airlines:

SriLankan Airlines to join the Oneworld alliance on May 1

SriLankan Airlines (Colombo) will become a full member of oneworld®, offering the alliance’s complete range ofservices and benefits with effect from Thursday May 1, 2014 – as the first carrier from the Indian subcontinent to become part of any global airline groups.

The national airline of Sri Lanka received clearance to board oneworld, the world’s leading quality airline alliance, after successfully completing a thorough review of its readiness conducted by Cathay Pacific Airways, which is sponsoring its entry into the alliance, with the oneworld central team.

Its addition to oneworld will come a month after the alliance welcomes TAM and US Airways on board, on March 31, concluding the group’s biggest yet expansion program.

SriLankan will bring two new destinations on to the oneworld network – Sri Lanka’s new Hambantota International and India’s Tiruchirapalli.

SriLankan already code-shares with oneworld members Malaysia Airlines and S7 Airlines with code-share agreements with a number of other oneworld partners at an advanced stage of discussion.

Copyright Photo: Jay Selman/AirlinersGallery.com. The Airbus A340s will be phased out and replaced by newer A330s by late 2015. The company also has seven A350-900s on order. Airbus A340-311 4R-ADB (msn 033) completes its final approach at Bangkok.

SriLankan Airlines:

How long will Tigerair continue to invest in Mandala Airlines?

Mandala Airlines (Tiger Airways Indonesia) (Jakarta) continues to lose money. As we previously reported, the airline was resurrected on April 5, 2012 as a joint venture between Tigerair (Singapore) (49%) and Saratoga Capital (51%) under the Tigerair brand. According to this report by Jakarta Post, Saratoga will continue to support the Indonesian carrier. There are unconfirmed reports that Tigerair will leave the joint venture.

Mandala suspended nine routes last month as it tries to cut its losses. The airline blamed high fuel costs.

Read the full report: CLICK HERE

Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A320-232 PK-RMQ (msn 5335) approaches the runway at Bangkok. Under the joint venture, Mandala removed its very colorful Mandala logo on the tail and instead adopted Tiger stripes on the tail. It is still operating under the Mandala name but under the Tigerair low-fare business plan.

Mandala Airlines:

Current Tigerair routes:

Jet Airways starts Hyderabad-Abu Dhabi service on March 1

Jet Airways (Mumbai) launched a new daily nonstop service from Hyderabad to Abu Dhabi staring on March 1, 2014.

Jet Airways flight 9W 550 departed Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Airport at 2025 and arrived in Abu Dhabi International Airport at 2310 (LT). On the return leg, the flight 9W 549 will depart Abu Dhabi at 1045 (LT) and arrive in Hyderabad at 1610.

Jet Airways currently operates a daily flight each from Delhi, Kochi and Chennai and 11 flights a week from Mumbai to Abu Dhabi.

The airline will deploy Boeing 737-800 aircraft on the new route.

Jet Airways: