From the “white lotus” to white sands: Bangkok Airways is expanding for tourist tributary

Bangkok Airways PCL is preparing for the order of as many as 30 new planes as it restores its aging fleet and plans to increase tourism due to the popular “White Lotus” television series.

Medium -size Thai carrier plans to press the planned manufacturer Airbus Se, Boeing Co. And Embraer Sa at least 20 aircraft with a one-time passage in the first half of the year, with the options to order another 10, said Chief Executive Director Puttipong Prasarttong-Oototh. Its purpose is to increase its fleet at least 30 planes in the next four years, including renting some planes, he said.

“We have to grow, and the new fleet of the aircraft would be mandatory,” Puttipong said in an interview. Currently, the carrier is flying 25 aircraft, some of which have been 20 years.

Bangkok Airways manages the routes between Bangkok and large tourist destinations, including Koch Samui, one of the shooting places for the last white lotus season and where the carrier owns the airport. The show is expected to lead to tourists into Thailand, and this year the government predicts a record 40 million visitors to the country.

Puttipong said that in the second quarter the carrier had already noted the increase in flights by 14%, which usually threw a low season in the Thai calendar.

According to Puttipong, Bangkok Airways has 10% to 20% more passengers than 2.7 million last year on its routes to Koh Samui. The island’s property gives it a virtual monopoly of flights to a hot point.

As a result of the company’s movement, the company should start 1.5 billion Baht ($ 45 million) updates Samui airport in the second half of this year, he said. The project is expected to last three years and the airport will continue to work during this time. Bangkok Air provided permission to increase the number of flights to 73 from 50 a day.

A total of 4.7 million passengers will be expected this year, compared to 4.3 million in 2024, Puttipong said.