Thai AirAsia adds Danang to timetable

• Apr 27, 2017

Thai AirAsia (TAA) is strengthening its foothold in the Thai-Vietnamese air travel market by making Danang its third port of call in Vietnam.
Thailand’s biggest low-cost carrier will become the second airline to operate non-stop flights between Bangkok and the largest city in central Vietnam.
TAA’s Danang launch, set for June 9, comes after Vietnam Airlines ended regular flights on the city pair in March.
TAA is filling the void left by the Vietnamese flag carrier and exploiting Danang’s status as one of Vietnam’s tourism hotspots.
International arrivals to Danang in 2016 jumped 34% year-on-year to 1.6 million, with 24,000 of those being Thai nationals.
TAA will compete with Bangkok Airways, the full-service forerunner that spearheaded Bangkok-Danang services last May.
Santisuk Klongchaiya, head of commercial at TAA, said yesterday that the Danang launch was timed to sync with travel demand on the route.
“We think the timing is right because Danang is becoming known to Thai travellers and the city is gaining an international reputation as a holiday resort,” he said.
With ticket fares 20-30% lower than those of Bangkok Airways, TAA believes it can quickly build up sales to achieve a targeted load factor of 85%.
TAA is offering a promotional fare of 990 baht, one-way all-inclusive, for the Danang service.
Mr Santisuk said the Danang launch forms part of TAA’s strategic plan to increase coverage of the CLMV (Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam), a region with strong economic growth potential.
TAA has one of the most extensive networks in the CLMV, serving nine cities (including Danang) on 10 routes with a combined 21 flights a day.
The CLMV represents 9% of TAA’s current business volume.
In Vietnam, TAA offers three flights a day from its Don Mueang airport base to Ho Chi Minh City and two daily services to Hanoi.

Source: http://www.bangkokpost.com/business/tourism-and-transport/1239270/thai-airasia-adds-danang-to-timetable