THAI Airways International (THAI) will be launching THAI Smile, a sub-brand airline, in July next year.
THAI president Piyasvasti Amranand said the new carrier would be positioned as a light-premium airline – charging higher fares than low-cost carriers, but lower than those of the national carrier – and use the same flight codes as THAI.
In-flights meals will be provided as part of the fares, while a loyalty programme is to be introduced.
THAI Smile will be operated under the newly established affiliated business unit, THAI Smile Air, with THAI vice-president corporate strategy and planning department Woranate Laprabang appointed as managing director.
In its first year, THAI Smile will be operating four 174-seat Airbus A320 aircraft on five domestic routes, linking Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport with Ubon Ratchathani, Udon Thani, Khon Kaen, Chiang Rai and Surat Thani.
THAI will be dropping these routes to make way for THAI Smile.
The new airline will be operating international routes, focused on Asian destinations such as China and India, from its second year, and will be growing its fleet to 11 A320s by 2015.
The launching of THAI Smile will not affect ongoing plans between THAI and Singapore’s Tiger Airways to establish Thai Tiger Airways, according to Piyasvasti.
By Sirima Eamtako
