Thai AirAsia will reduce its seat capacity by approximately 30 percent in May and June, in response to surging fuel prices and seasonally weak demand.
For domestic flights within Thailand, the airline will significantly scale back its Bangkok/Suvarnabhumi operations, and will operate only two routes: to Chiang Mai and Phuket. Flights to and from Bangkok/Don Mueang will continue to operate, and passengers can use alternative flights there. The Bangkok/Don Mueang–Narathiwat route has been suspended since April 21.
Suspensions on international routes will focus mainly on flights to India. The airline will suspend its Bangkok/Don Mueang–Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Lucknow, and Guwahati routes until the end of the summer schedule.
In addition, the Bangkok/Don Mueang–Denpasar (Bali), Hong Kong, Singapore, and Kathmandu routes will also be temporarily suspended. The Bangkok/Don Mueang–Xi’an route, the Phuket–Chennai and Kochi routes, and the Hong Kong–Okinawa/Naha route have each been suspended.
The airline will continue to operate its main routes connecting China, East Asia, and various ASEAN destinations. It states that, once fuel prices stabilize and demand recovers, it is prepared to promptly resume and expand operations.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Santisuk Klongchaiya commented, “Fuel prices are our largest cost factor, and prices have recently soared to more than three times their previous level. We need to optimize our plans by reducing flight frequencies and temporarily suspending unprofitable routes.”
