THAI Smile starts third route to China

THAI Smile launches Zhengzhou service

THAI Smile on 27 January added Zhengzhou (CGO) in China to its network. The 2,663-kilometre route from the airline’s base at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi (BKK) will be flown four times weekly using the carrier’s 180-seat A320s. Competition comes from China Southern Airlines which already offers a daily service between the two airports. THAI Smile now serves 19 destinations from Bangkok’s main airport, 10 of which are domestic destinations. Of the nine international routes three are in China, three in India and one each in Cambodia, Malaysia and Myanmar. The airline’s other two destinations in China are Chongqing and Changsha. In addition Thai Airways offers 65 flights per week to six other Chinese destinations; Beijing, Chengdu, Guangzhou, Kunming, Shanghai Pudong and Xiamen. THAI Smile has just 1.3% of the seat capacity between Thailand and China, which is served by over 20 airlines. The three leading carriers for seat capacity are Thai AirAsia with 10.0%, China Southern Airlines (9.8%) and Thai Airways (9.7%).