Thai AirAsia Moving to Don Muang
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Thai AirAsia Moving to Don Muang
I'm just hearing first reports that Thai AirAsia has agreed to move back to Don Muang airport, effective in October. I imagine we'll see confirmation in tomorrow's papers, if it's true. I'm pretty sure this will only happen if the government follows through on an agreement to allow international flights in and out of Don Muang, since Thai AirAsia could hardly split its operations between two airports and keep costs down.
I'll keep you posted.
I'll keep you posted.
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Air Asia has been trying to bargain a deal for moving back to the old air port for a few months. Air Asia want sole use of the whole terminal 1 but that's not going to happen. Several Thai Airways domestic flight will be move as well to alleviate the congestion at Suvarnabhumi. A few airlines will restart international flights from Don Muaeng.
I suggest you wait for the official air line announcement and the moving process will most likely take several weeks before it happens.
I suggest you wait for the official air line announcement and the moving process will most likely take several weeks before it happens.
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News from March: http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/loca...or-b60m-revamp
Latest: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/busi...-30184854.html
Again as not to cause any confusion wait for the official airline news releases from both Air Asia and Thai Airways.
Latest: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/busi...-30184854.html
Again as not to cause any confusion wait for the official airline news releases from both Air Asia and Thai Airways.
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I note the Post article says AirAisa has dropped their demand for exclusive use of T1. Everyone will share T1 until it's full.
Neither article mentions Thai. Seems the focus is on budget carriers, and if AirAsia moves that makes a lot of space at Swampy. Maybe Thai Smile will move to DMK and Thai will stay at BKK.
Neither article mentions Thai. Seems the focus is on budget carriers, and if AirAsia moves that makes a lot of space at Swampy. Maybe Thai Smile will move to DMK and Thai will stay at BKK.
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Bad move. Air Asia just lost a least one customer, thats me! Don Muang is very inconvenient and there are no flight connections with major international airlines. To get from Don Muang to Suvarnabhumi is a nightmare and the quoted 45 minutes travel wishful thinking. Depending on the time of the day 1 1/2 to 2 hours is more realistic!!! I was using Air Asia 3 to 4 times a month to BKK, now I will switch to Thai Airways. Price difference is not that much if you calculate the travel expenses to/from Suvarnabhumi and consider the waste of time.....
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That's one way to look at it, but I can also see from AirAsia's viewpoint, moving to DMK helps them to keep you flying with them. Regionally, they fly just about everywhere so they can be a reasonable choice. (Oh, and FYI in case you didn't know, they have a transfer service if you are making connections.) Don't forget, AirAsia has the highest percent of income that comes from non-flight sources, so having a whole airport more or less to themselves helps them to keep that up (and it's probably why they wanted exclusive use of one of DMK's terminals). I expect they'll operate a shuttle service between DMK and BKK for those who need it. Yeah, it won't be free.
I flew AirAsia this morning to Hat Yai, and they announced twice during the flight that they were moving to DMK on 1 October so it seems they're pretty committed to this.
One thing I wonder is, if once they move they might start flying to Siem Reap. Contrary to popular belief, there's nothing that gives Bangkok Airways exclusivity over that route. Thai AirAsia can fly there if they want to, and as they're now also a listed company, I wonder how much longer they can continue to 'respect' Bangkok Airways and not compete with them.
I flew AirAsia this morning to Hat Yai, and they announced twice during the flight that they were moving to DMK on 1 October so it seems they're pretty committed to this.
One thing I wonder is, if once they move they might start flying to Siem Reap. Contrary to popular belief, there's nothing that gives Bangkok Airways exclusivity over that route. Thai AirAsia can fly there if they want to, and as they're now also a listed company, I wonder how much longer they can continue to 'respect' Bangkok Airways and not compete with them.
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Moving to DMK won't keep me flying with them, like many others I know, since Air Asia is not flying long haul to Europe ,US and Australia like I need to do!
The "feeder function" will be gone, unfortunately!!! Lot's of people I know use Air Asia to connect to their main hub Kuala Lumpur and on to Australia. That will be history! My guess is that's up to 30 % of their customers.
Let's see... sooner or later I expect them back at Suvarnabhumi.....
The "feeder function" will be gone, unfortunately!!! Lot's of people I know use Air Asia to connect to their main hub Kuala Lumpur and on to Australia. That will be history! My guess is that's up to 30 % of their customers.
Let's see... sooner or later I expect them back at Suvarnabhumi.....
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Michael, if Air Asia was to start flying to Siem Reap, that would keep them in business for sure. I thought there were issues about why Bangkok Air was the only carrier flying between Bangkok and Siem Reap... if they don't have exclusive rights, why hasn't Thai taken on the route?
The move will change travel plans for many people who fly into Bangkok to hop a flight to Yangon. The international connections will be much more complex.
The move will change travel plans for many people who fly into Bangkok to hop a flight to Yangon. The international connections will be much more complex.