Expanding AirAsia adding 70 pilots to its Thai units
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THAI AirAsia and Thai AirAsia X are adding 70 pilots to secure crews for long-term expansion in both short- and long-haul routes.
Tassapon Bijleveld, chief executive officer of Thai AirAsia – the short-haul, low-cost wing of the AirAsia group in Thailand – is putting nearly 30 experienced captains on to its pilot roster.
All of them resigned from Thai Airways International before joining Thai AirAsia, which currently employs about 400 pilots.
“Ex-pilots of THAI want to join Thai AirAsia not only because of the attractive returns, but also because they need more security and confidence for their future,” he said.
About 40 students have been sent by Thai AirAsia for training at Bangkok Aviation Centre and will soon be deployed on duty.
Thai AirAsia X – the long-haul, low-cost complement to Thai AirAsia – uses 26 pilots for flights from Bangkok to Seoul in Korea and to Tokyo and Osaka in Japan. There is no plan to hire more at this stage.
Thai AirAsia is preparing for network expansion in Thailand as well as in the region.
It has an Airbus fleet of 39 A320 aircraft. One Airbus is scheduled to arrive this year and five more will be delivered next year, taking its fleet to 45 aircraft.
With more seats, the airline expects its passenger numbers will rise from the projection of 12.6 million this year to 15 million next year.
Thai AirAsia X is operating two aircraft, with a new one due to enter service next year.
Thai AirAsia has said it will increase frequencies on existing routes and also extend its network to more destinations both here and abroad.
In the domestic market, it will start connecting Bangkok (Don Mueang) to Sakhon Nakhon in the Northeast with two daily flights on October 1.
It also plans to link Chiang Mai or Phuket with overseas destinations, particularly in China, to meet high demand. Chinese tourists are expected to flock to the Kingdom after the waiver of their visa fees.
Thai AirAsia X is looking to boost frequencies from Bangkok-Osaka in the first quarter of next year.
