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HIGH FLYERS & FLIGHTS OF FANCY (part I)

16/12/2018

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Over the past half century,Thailand has seen at least 123 airlines being formed. Not all have survived. Others have been spectacularly successful.
Maxmilian Wechsler reports on the amazing and little known history of this nation’s civil aviation industry
OPERATING even a small airline is an extremely costly undertaking, starting with the acquisition of aircraft, hiring qualified personnel, especially pilots, and obtaining all the necessary certifications and documents.

Thus, it might surprise a lot of people to learn that at least 79 civilian airlines have been launched in Thailand over the past 50 years. They include scheduled, charter, private and cargo carriers. Some took off without a hitch and continue to fly under their original logo, while others survived after mergers and name changes. Still others folded after a short run, and at least 44 airlines were announced but never actually got off the ground.

Like all industries, civil aviation in Thailand has had its ups and downs. There have been accidents resulting in fatalities of passengers and crew, as well as near misses in which only expensive equipment was lost. In the past three years a number of Thai airlines were temporarily banned or faced certain restrictions in foreign countries, mainly because of safety issues. This prompted a severe scolding of the nation’s airlines by the authorities.
On a more positive note, the Thai aviation industry on the whole can claim a very good safety record, and air travelers worldwide associate it with excellent service. At the prestigious Skytrax world airlines awards 2018, Thai airways won three awards and Bangkok airways took home two awards.

FOLLOWING IS A LIST OF THAI AIRLINES FORMED SINCE 1968 THAT ARE NOW OR WERE FORMERLY OPERATIONAL:

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1968 → Bangkok Airways
Genealogy: Krungthep Sahakol
Company Limited > Sahakol Air >
Bangkok Airways.
1969 → 1973 Airservices
1969 → 1974 Bira Air Transport
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1988 → Thai Airways International
(Thai Airways or THAI)
Thai Airways Company or Thai
Airways (TAC) merged with Thai
Airways International on April 1, 1988.
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1969 → 1976 Air Siam
Genealogy: Varan Air-Siam >
Air Siam.
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1990 → 2009 PBair
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1969 → 1984 Sky of Siam
1976 → 1976 Avia -Thai
International
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1990 → SFS Aviation
Genealogy: Si Chang Flying
Services > SFS Aviation.
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1978 → Thai Flying Services
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1995 → 2008 Sky Eyes Airways
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​1979 → 1980 Erewan Air
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1995 → 2018 Orient Thai
Airlines
Genealogy: Cambodian
International Airline > Orient
Express Air > Orient Thai Airlines.
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​1986 → Air People International
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1995 → MJets
Genealogy: Minor Aviation > MJets
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1987 → Thai Aviation Services

1987 → 1993 Tropical Sea Air
1988 → 1988 Brom Air
​1999 → 1999 Siam International
Aviatio
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1996 → 1996 Princess Airlines
1998 → 2003 Angel Air
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​1999 → 2012 Phuket Air
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2004 → ?? JetGo International
The airline is reportedly out of
business.
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​2000 → 2004 Air Andaman
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2004 → Nok Air
Genealogy: SkyAsia > Nok Air
Thai Airways is the second-largest
shareholder in Nok Air.
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2002 → 2014 SGA Airlines
(Siam General Aviation Co., Ltd.)
The airline previously operated as
an arm for Nok Air under the brand Nok Mini. The company ended their partnership in 2014.
Picture
2005 → 2009 SkyStar Airways
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2002 → 2014 Nok Mini Siam General Aviation Co., Ltd. previously operated as an arm for Nok Air under the brand Nok Mini. The company ended their
partnership in 2014.
Picture
2005 → Bangkok Helicopter
Services
Picture
​2003 → 2004 Thai Pacific
Airlines
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2005 → Fun Flying Thai Air
Service
Picture
2003 → 2004 ThaiJet Airways
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2006 → 2008 Thai Global Air
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2003 → 2006 Jet Asia
2003 → 2010 One-To-GO
Airlines
The airline integrated into Orient
Thai Airlines in 2010.
Picture
2006 → 2008 Coco Seaplane
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​2003 → Thai AirAsia
Picture
2006 → K-Mile Air

​2007 → Thai Platinum
International Airlines
Genealogy: Blue Sorakom >Thai
Platinum International Airlines.
According to official the airline,
formed in 2017, should be flying
in 2019.
​

2007 → 2008 Thai Global
Airlines
Picture
​2004 → 2005 Flyhy Cargo
Airlines
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2007 → 2009 Destination Air
Shuttle
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​2004 → 2006 Thai Air Cargo
Picture
2007 → 2009 Air Phoenix
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2004 → 2006 Thai Sky Airlines
Picture
2007 → Heliluck Aviation
Services
Picture
2004 → 2010 Solar Air
A relaunch is planned.
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2008 → 2015 Intira Airline
Genealogy: Business Air >
Intira Airlines.
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2004 → OrientSKYs
Genealogy: XJET Limited >
OrientSKYs.
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2008 → VIP Jets
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2009 → 2014 U Airlines
Genealogy: Crystal Thai Airlines >
U Airlines.
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2009 → 2015 Happy Air
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2009 → 2015 Legacy Air
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2009 → 2018 Jet Asia Airways
The airline is reportedly restarting
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2010 → 2012 P.C. Air
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2010 → 2012 Sunny Airway
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2010 → 2017 Siam Air
The airline is reportedly restarting.
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2011 → 2012* Thai Regional
Airlines
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2011 → 2016 City Airways
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2011 → Thai Smile Airways
Genealogy: Thai Wings >
Thai Smile Airways.
The airline is a wholly owned
subsidiary of Thai Airways.
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2011 → Advance Aviation Jet
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2012 → 2018 Asia Atlantic
Airlines
Genealogy: Asia Pacific Airlines > Asia Atlantic Airlines.
The airline is reportedly restarting.
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2011 → South Wings (Thailand)
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2012 → 2018 R Airlines
The airline is legally incorporated
into Skyway Airways Co., Ltd.
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2012 → ?? Jaras Aviation
2014 → ?? JetGo International
The airline is reportedly out of business.
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2012 → NewGen Airways
New Gen Airways is a trading name for NewGen Airways Co., Ltd., formerly Sabaidee Airways Co., Ltd.
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2014 → Thai VietJet Air
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2013 → 2017 Kan Air
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2014 → Thai AirAsia X
Picture
2013 → 2018 Thai Express Air
The airline is reportedly restarting.
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2014 → United Offshore Aviation
Picture
2013 → Asian Air
Picture
2014 → NokScott
Picture
2013 → Thai Lion Air
Picture
2016 → Bangkok Jets
The airline is operated by AC
Aviation Co., Ltd.
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2013 → Budget Lines
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2017 → Wisdom Airways

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Skytrax Awards 2018

THE national carrier Thai Airways received three prestigious awards at the Skytrax 2018 World Airline Awards held at The Langham Hotel in London on July 17. Skytrax is a United Kingdom-based consultancy which runs an airline and airport review and ranking site.

The World Airline Awards were initiated in 1999 to recognize leaders in Skytrax’ annual worldwide airline customer satisfaction survey. 
This year’s awards are based on the results of a survey conducted between August 2017 and May 2018, with responses from more than 20 million participants who flew with 335 airlines in total. The survey evaluates product standards and various airline services, starting with check-in at the airport. The majority of questions address inflight services, including cabin and seat comfort, crew service, meals and entertainment.
THAI was awarded World’s Best Economy Class Airline title and World’s Best Economy Class Onboard Catering for the second year in a row, and the Royal Orchid Spa at Suvarnabhumi Airport was named Word’s Best Airline Lounge Spa for the fourth consecutive year. THAI is ranked by Skytrax as the tenth Best Airline in the World, and received Skytrax awards for Best Cabin Crew in Thailand and Best Economy Class in Asia. THAI also got some very good scores in other categories.

Bangkok Airways won two Skytrax awards for World’s Best Regional Airline and Best Regional Airline in Asia. The airline scored well in several other categories and was ranked 21st in the 100 World’s Best Airlines. Both airlines were represented in London by executives who collected the awards. ​

FOLLOWING IS A LIST OF THAI AIRLINES FORMED SINCE 1968 THAT NEVER TOOK OFF:

2004 → Sukhothai Airways
2004 → Onyx Airlines
2006 → Chiang Mai Airways
2006 → Sabai Airline (Spark Air)
2006 → Eagle Air
2006 → Euarng Luang
2006 → Global International
2006 → Siam Express Airways
2006 → Phetchabun Airlines
2007 → Neo Siam Airways
2007 → Holiday Airlines
2007 → Royal Orchid Airlines
2007 → Sawasdee Airways
2007 → Southern Airways
2007 → Sun Freight Logistic
2007 → Thai Star Airlines

*Star symbol indicates the year is uncertain
2008 → Siam World Airways
2008 → T.A.G. Airlines Co.
2009 → Aero Pro
2009 → Asia Budget Air
2009 → Krabi Airlines
2010 → Quality Airways
2011 → Asia Majestic Airlines
2011 → Thai Lite
2011 → AVA Airlines (Asia Valued Airlines)
2011 → Thai Tiger Airways
2011 → King Sky Diamond Airline
2011 → Nakhon Chiangmai Air
2012 → Chaba Airlines (Siam Global Air)

2012 → Infinity Airlines (Infinity Asia Airlines)
2012 → Journey Jet
2012 → Mastertech Airline

2013 → Nine Star Airways
2014 → Olympic Aviation Services
2014 → SEA Aviation
2014 → Azur Helicopter (Thailand)
2014 → Asia Connect Airlines
2014 → Thai Tour & Trans Airways
2014 → Air Inter Transport Co.
2014 → Air Singhara
2014 → SiamJet Airlines
2015 → Skylar Airways
2015 → Small Planet Airlines Thailand
2015 → National Air  Charter
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