Thai low cost carrier NewGen Airways (Bangkok Don Mueang) is feeling positive about its future as it considers expanding its international offerings to India. As previously reported, NewGen was forced to cut its weekly Thailand-China flight frequencies by as much as 70-80% after a clamp-down by Thai authorities on zero-dollar tour scams. The rapid decline in Chinese tourists has led to significant losses for NewGen in the second half of 2016.

Speaking with The Bangkok Post, chief executive Jarurnpong Sornprasit confirmed the airline’s commitment to three more B737-800s in 2017 to complement the current fleet of four B737-400s and five B737-800s. Sornprasit also indicated that they are in talks to wet-lease some aircraft to Saudia (SV, Jeddah International), but did not provide further details.

As a result of the Thai government’s clamp-down, NewGen revised its projected 2016 revenue from THB5 billion (USD139 million) down to THB4.5 billion (USD125 million). It still plans to launch an initial public offering (IPO) to raise THB8 billion (USD222 million), but will delay the offer until 2018 or 2019.

NewGen currently flies to fifteen Chinese destinations from Bangkok Don Mueang, eleven from Krabi, two from Surat Thani, and three from Phuket. It plans to add flights from Chiang Mai as well and hopes to soon launch services to Taipei Taoyuan and Kaohsiung to reduce its revenue dependence on mainland China alone.