New Delhi-based budget carrier IndiGo has added Bangkok to its international itinerary with a possible start of scheduled air service between Thailand and India next year.
The Thai capital will be the airlines first overseas destination, however IndiGo plans to add to its international network after it fulfills the regulations requiring it to serve Indian domestic routes for three years before being allowed to fly overseas.
IndiGo, which took to the skies in August 2006, has been contemplating linking Bangkok with main Indian cities such as Kolkata, Mumbai, Bangalore and Delhi, according to Pavin Sachaphimukh, chairman of Nancy Group Company.
The Bangkok-based travel management firm Nancy Group was recently appointed as IndiGo's passenger sales agent in Thailand, a move seen as groundwork preparations for its planned launch of air link with Thailand.
Thailand-India has been a high-potential sector for IndiGo, owned by InterGlobe Enterprises, because of the continued robust traffic between the two countries.
Indian tourists have not been deterred by the global credit crunch and Thailand's protracted political problems, with as many as 800,000 Indians expected to visit this year, Mr Pavin pointed out.
According to the Tourism Authority of Thailand, the kingdom is the second most popular Asian destination among Indian tourists. Last year, 536,356 Indians visited Thailand, second only to Singapore, which attracted 749,000.
By planning to launch its services to Thailand, IndiGo plans to take advantage of the relatively untapped low-cost travel segment between India and Thailand to cater to budget-conscious travellers such as youths and students.
The two countries are currently served by four airlines: Thai Airways International, Jet Airways, Cathay Pacific and Air-India Express, which are altogether offering about 90 flights a week.
IndiGo is establishing a network of overseas agents, first tasked to sell tickets on its domestic routes now covering 17 cities in India.
The economic slowdown and decline in passenger numbers have forced several airlines to look at pruning costs including deferring deliveries of aircraft, cutting back on routes and laying off staff.
IndiGo officials, however, claim that they have been seeing healthy growth in passenger numbers and they have expressed that there are no immediate plans to defer delivery of any of the remaining 100 A320 family aircraft it has ordered from the European plane maker Airbus. The airline operates 100 daily domestic flights with 20 Airbus jetliners and plans to serve about 30 Indian cities by 2010, with a fleet of 40 A320s. IndiGo is due to receive all 100 Airbus jets by 2016.
Source:etravelblackboardasia
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