AirAsia To Launch Chennai-Bangkok Route On March 23

Wednesday, 14th March 2012 at 01:51am

AirAsia has announced it will launch its new Chennai-Bangkok route with a flight frequency of five times a week starting March 23.

This announcement comes on the heels of the Thai budget airline's decision to discontinue its flights to Delhi beginning March 23 due to the increase in Delhi International Airport's charges and the rising costs of fuel, making the route unviable for AirAsia.

The airline continues to push its low fares, short-haul trips, and high frequencies of flights with quick turnaround times in keeping with AirAsia's mantra. This business model has worked for low-cost airline's operations that offer flights lasting no longer than three and a half hours, of which the longer Delhi route was a deviation from the norm.

On the other hand, AirAsia is still looking to India as a vital market for its continuing expansion, and is currently exploring opportunities to connect Bangkok and the rest of Thailand with Bangalore, Hyderabad, and Kochi.

For its Chennai-Bangkok routes, AirAsia will deploy its 180-seater A320 for the five-times-a-week flights, aiming to achieve an occupancy rate of 80 percent within three months from the launching of the new route that begins next week.

The airlines' Chennai-Bangkok route will also feature airfare rates 30 percent lower when compared side-by-side with other full-service operators. The discounted pricing is something AirAsia hopes will carve a new passenger market for this flight sector.

Bangkok is considered a popular destination for Indian tourists and travelers, right after Malaysia and Singapore. In 2011, 800,000 Indian passengers traveled to Thailand. With the opening of AirAsia's Chennai-Bangkok route, this number is expected to increase by 20 percent this year.

By: Pete Lee.