Bangkok Airways (PG, Bangkok Suvarnabhumi) is considering a wide range of narrowbody jets for its planned fleet modernisation, including A319neo, A220-300s, and B737-7s, President Puttipong Prasarttong-Osoth told FlightGlobal.
"The A319neo and [A220-300] are about the same size, but if you look at specifications and operating capabilities, probably they can compete with each other," Prasarttong-Osoth said.
While the carrier is not in a rush to replace its current fleet, it expects to decide on the new type by early 2019 at the latest.
The carrier's options are limited by the limited length of the runway at Koh Samui, one of its key destinations. Although Bangkok Airways owns and operates the airport at the popular Thai holiday island, expansion is not an option due to terrain limitations.
According to the ch-aviation capacity module, Bangkok Airways offers 249 weekly departures out of Koh Samui, its second-largest airport after Bangkok Suvarnabhumi. The carrier has a whopping 91.5% market share by capacity at the airport.
As such, the carrier would be looking at the smaller variants of narrowbodies able to take-off from the 2,100-metre-long without payload restrictions.
Currently, Bangkok Airways operates fifteen A319-100s, which can operate from Koh Samui without restrictions. It also operates six ATR72-500s and nine ATR72-600s. The carrier's nine A320-200s are not able to depart from Koh Samui with a full payload.
Bangkok Airways is not interested in adding widebodies or regional jets, Prasarttong-Osoth added.
The carrier is also proceeding with its previously announced plans to build an MRO base at Sukhothai, another airport it owns. The hangar will be able to accommodate two A320s; construction works are scheduled to commence at the end of 2018. Bangkok Airways plans to initially focus on servicing its own aircraft at Sukhothai but foresees eventually expanding into services for other carriers.
In addition, the airline is also planning to expand the third of its airports, at Trat, so that it can accommodate A320 Family jets.
