Thailand: Prime minister eager to tap into massive Chinese market
Much has been made of the rise and rise of low-cost carriers in the UK and Europe; now it looks like Thailand will soon have its own no-frills airline as well.
The Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has ststed that he wants to create a new low-cost hub from the northern city of Chiang Mai, allowing for more travel between Thailand and the countries to the north; Vietnam, Cambodia, and most significantly, China.
According to the Financial Times, the prime minister wants to shift the focus of the economy away from Bangkok as the national airport there is already approaching its capacity, as well as attracting new business from China, where air travel is becoming increasingly popular.
The newspaper reports that Shinawatra has already approached Singapore for support in setting up the airline; the Singapore flag-carrier SIA has stated that it will carry out a study on the project’s viability before making a decision. Financial experts told the newspaper that creating a new carrier and a second major hub would be a “huge boon” for Thailand.
