BANGKOK, 27 August 2018: NokScoot will compete aggressively on the Bangkok-Osaka Kansai route when it launches a new service this October with fares as low as USD81 one-way.
It enters a crowded market, but intends to pitch its fares competitively to attract two-way tourism; a mix of Thais visiting the popular Japanese destination, while tapping Thailand’s popularity with Japanese travellers.
Thailand’s outbound travel market is expanding fast as more repeat visitors return to enjoy a visa-free holiday in Japan.
The airline is due to launch the four weekly services 28 October according to timetable information from Airlineroute.
Flights will operate Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday using a 415-seat Boeing 777-200.
The service will depart Bangkok’s Don Mueang Airport at 2350 and arrive in Kansai, Osaka at 0710 on the following morning. The return flight will depart Kansai at 0830 and arrive in Bangkok at 1245.
The airline also confirmed it will continue to serve the Bangkok-Tokyo Narita route with daily flights.
Encouraged by positive travel trends between Japan and Thailand, NokScoot said is looking at adding another destination in Japan, either Hokkaido in north Japan, or Fukuoka in west Japan, depending on airport incentives.
Business reports in Japan point out that other airlines in the region are increasing flights. Philippines’ Cebu Air has flights connecting Manila and Cebu to Narita, Osaka, Nagoya and Fukuoka and may add a service to the northern city of Sapporo after it takes delivery of Airbus A321 Neo aircraft at the end of the year.
AirAsia X, the long-haul unit of AirAsia, has service between Sapporo and Kuala Lumpur. In April, it began flying to Sapporo from Bangkok. The airline is planning a service from the Malaysian capital to Fukuoka.
However, not all new flights to Japan worked. AirAsia will halt its Jakarta-Narita service at the end of September following its launch in May.
