Bangkok Airways, Thailand’s leading regional airline, is set to order up to 30 new aircraft as part of its strategy to modernize its aging fleet and take advantage of the anticipated tourism boom. The carrier plans to place an initial order for at least 20 single-aisle jets with manufacturers Airbus, Boeing, and Embraer, with options for an additional 10 jets in the first half of 2025. Chief Executive Officer Puttipong Prasarttong-Osoth confirmed the move, saying the airline aims to expand its fleet to 30 jets over the next four to five years, including leasing some of the aircraft.
“The need for a new fleet is critical to sustain our growth,” Puttipong said, noting that the airline’s current fleet of 25 jets includes several that are more than two decades old.
A major contributing factor to the growth forecast is the global success of The White Lotus, which features scenes shot on Koh Samui, a popular tourist destination in Thailand. This visibility has boosted interest in the island, where Bangkok Airways owns the airport and holds a near-monopoly on flights to the area. As a result, the airline expects a 10% to 20% increase in passenger traffic on its routes to Koh Samui, expecting to carry around 2.7 million passengers to the island this year.
The Thai government has projected that 40 million visitors will come to Thailand in 2025, further fueled by shows like The White Lotus. Even during the traditionally slower low season, Bangkok Airways has reported a 14% increase in advanced flight bookings for the second quarter of the year.
In response to this influx of visitors, the airline is also preparing to begin a 1.5-billion-baht renovation of the Samui airport in the second half of 2025. This expansion is expected to last three years, during which time the airport will remain operational. Additionally, the airline has received approval to increase the number of flights from 50 to 73 per day.
With these efforts, Bangkok Airways expects to see a record 4.7 million passengers fly with the carrier in 2025, up from 4.3 million the previous year.
