Thai AirAsia will reduce the frequency or temporarily halt flights on some routes, most notably to India, as it struggles with high jet fuel prices amid the continuing conflict in the Middle East.
Thailand’s leading low-cost carrier announced the changes on Tuesday, a move that mostly affects flights at Suvarnabhumi airport, routes to some domestic destinations and to international destinations, mainly to India.
The changes are effective for two months or more, depending on the route and its popularity. The airline said they will reduce overall seat capacity to about 30% next month and in June.
“Aviation fuel constitutes our primary operating expense, and with jet fuel prices having surged more than threefold recently, we must rigorously optimise our operational plans by reducing flight frequencies and temporarily suspending several unviable routes,’ Thai AirAsia chief executive officer Phirat Pornpathananangoon said.
For domestic routes from Suvarnabhumi, Thai AirAsia will operate only to Chiang Mai and Phuket over the next two months, and ground planes serving other airports.
Suspended domestic flights from Suvarnabhumi from May to June:
Buri Ram
Chiang Rai
Khon Kaen
Hat Yai
Krabi
Surat Thani
Nakhon Si Thammarat
The airline previously suspended flights from Suvarnabhumi to Udon Thani from April 28 to the end of June and to Narathiwat from April 21.
Domestic flights from Don Mueang are operating normally.
Scrapped international routes from Don Mueang:
Guwahati : from April 29 – Oct 24
Kathmandu: from May 1 – July 31
Bali: from May 1 – June 30
Hong Kong (HKG): May 12 – June 30
Singapore: May 12 – June 30
Jaipur: May 12 – Oct 24
Ahmedabad: May 28 – Oct 24.
Hyderabad: June 1 – Oct 24
Lucknow: June 3 – Oct 24.
Xi’an: Suspension effective from May 11
Another suspended foreign route will be the Hong Kong-Okinawa service, from May 7.
The airline has grounded flights between Phuket and Chennai, in India, since April 13.
The decision follows the changes by its long-haul partner, Thai AirAsia X, which slashed frequencies and terminated some routes on Friday.