The ceremony signalled the beginning of a fleet overhaul by the airline. The carrier is scheduled to take delivery of the remaining eight turboprop aeroplanes before 2017 under the terms of a contract valued at US$222 million.
The new ATR 72-600s are being purchased to replace Bangkok Airways’ ATR 72-500s. ATR says the new aircraft are configured with seating for 70 passengers and are suitable for medium-haul routes up to 1,600kms.
Bangkok Airways garnered THB13 billion in funds from the sale of public shares last month when it was listed on the Thai stock exchange. At the time of the flotation, the carrier said the income raised would be used to renew the fleet as well as for operational capital and improving its facilities at Samui and Suvarnabhumi airports.
Bangkok Airways is a full service carrier based at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok. It flies to domestic locations such as Phuket, Chiang Mai and Phuket as well as international Asian destinations including Phnom Penh and Singapore.
Bangkok Airways gets new aircraft
News in Asia
Thai carrier Bangkok Airways accepted the first of the nine new aircraft it has on order two days ago. Puttipong Prasarttong-Osoth, the airline’s president, had travelled to Toulouse in France to take delivery of the ATR 72-600 in a formal ceremony staged at the manufacturer’s factory on Wednesday.