Bangkok Airways plans to acquire 30 new jets

Bangkok Airways plans to order up to 30 new planes to modernize its fleet and prepare for a rising number of tourists. The airline is seeing growth due to the success of the TV series "The White Lotus," which has attracted more visitors to Thailand. The company will look to Airbus, Boeing, and Embraer for at least 20 new single-aisle jets in the first half of this year, with options for about 10 more. Chief Executive Officer Puttipong Prasarttong-Osoth mentioned that the goal is to have at least 30 jets in the next four to five years. Currently, they operate 25 planes, some of which are quite old. Bangkok Airways connects Bangkok to major tourist spots, including Koh Samui, a filming location for "The White Lotus." The airline owns the airport on the island, giving it a strong position in the market. The Thai government expects around 40 million visitors this year, which could further boost the airline's business. Already, Bangkok Airways has reported a 14% rise in advance bookings for the second quarter, despite it being a traditionally slow time for tourism. Mr. Puttipong also stated they expect to carry 10% to 20% more passengers this year. To accommodate the growing traffic, the airline will begin a renovation of Koh Samui airport at a cost of 1.5 billion baht. The project will last three years, but the airport will remain operational. Additionally, the airline has received approval to increase its daily flights from 50 to 73. Overall, Bangkok Airways aims to fly a record 4.7 million passengers this year, up from 4.3 million last year.