Thai AirAsia (FD, Bangkok Don Mueang) has abandoned plans to establish a turboprop-based commuter airline on the grounds that the project is no longer tenable. Airline CEO Tassapon Bijleveld told the Bangkok Post that the project had been given serious consideration but was no longer "interesting to engage."
In March this year, the AirAsia (AK, Kuala Lumpur International) subsidiary was linked to possible talks with the now defunct Siam General Aviation (Bangkok Suvarnabhumi) after it terminated a four-year old domestic operations contract with Nok Air (DD, Bangkok Don Mueang) dubbed "Nok Mini".
The airline, however, has not completely dispelled the possibility of operating Thai domestic regional services adding that the upgrade of airports at Nan Nakhon, Loei, and Lampang will soon allow it to operate its A320s there.
The establishment of a provincial feeder service would allow Thai AirAsia to develop an integrated supply chain with its longhaul subsidiary, Thai AirAsia X (XJ, Bangkok Suvarnabhumi), pandering to the budget long-haul market.
