New Budget Airline in Thailand

[cybers1b 8]

here you go

 

Thailand's third budget airline begins service

 

BANGKOK: -- Nok Air, Thailand's newest budget airline, took to the skies for the first time Friday, a spokesman said.

 

The inaugural flight of Nok Air, partly owned by national carrier Thai Airways International, flew from the capital, Bangkok, to the northern city of Udon Thani, company spokesman Kuntawat Sirijangkapatana said.

 

The airline also began services to the northern city of Chiang Mai and the southern province of Hat Yai. It will offer 20 flights daily until October, when it will begin flying to the resort island of Phuket, Kuntawat said.

 

Nok Air currently leases two Boeing 737-400 planes and cockpit crews from Thai Airways, which owns a 39 percent share of the airline, Kuntawat said.

 

Nok _ which means "bird'' in Thai - will lease another plane later this year for its Phuket service, he said.

 

Fares begin at 498 baht (US$12) for flights from Bangkok to Udon Thani, 598 baht (US$15) to Chiang Mai and 898 baht (US$22) to Hat Yai.

 

Nok Air is the third no-frills carrier to set up in Thailand. Bangkok-based Orient Thai Airlines last year established 1-2-GO, and Thai Air Asia, a Thai joint venture with Malaysian budget carrier AirAsia, began flights within Thailand in February.

 

- AP 2004-07-23

 

http://www.nokair.co.th/

 

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