Thai Lion Air (SL, Bangkok Don Mueang) has scaled back its fleet expansion plans amid weaker-than-expected demand, chief executive Aswin Yangkirativorn told the Bangkok Post. The carrier had initially targeted a fleet of 40 aircraft this year but has shelved that projection. Nonetheless, it will add two more B737-900ERs in the fourth quarter of 2025.

In addition to the two pending deliveries in 2025, the airline expects to take a further four to five aircraft in 2026. According to ch-aviation fleets data, Thai Lion Air has so far inducted four aircraft this year - two B737-800s and two B737-900ERs - all on dry leases.

The carrier currently operates twenty-one B737-800s and nine B737-900ERs, with average fleet ages of 10.7 and 12.7 years, respectively. Before the height of the pandemic, Thai Lion Air operated as many as 40 units.

While management had aimed to return to that pre-pandemic fleet size in 2025, growth is now moderated by softer inbound demand, particularly from China. Still, the airline is preparing for stronger traffic in the fourth quarter peak season.

"We're still optimistic that Thai tourism will eventually improve. We adjusted our fleet expansion based on overall tourism growth," Aswin said.

On the network side, Thai Lion Air plans to launch several new routes out of its Bangkok Don Mueang hub this winter, including flights to Sapporo Chitose via Kaohsiung, Osaka Kansai via Taipei Taoyuan, Chongqing, and Tianjin.

Aswin added that the airline has no immediate plans to branch into widebody operations, though it has not entirely ruled out the option. For now, Thai Lion Air will remain an all-Boeing narrowbody operator.