Bangkok Airways (PG, Bangkok Suvarnabhumi) will wet-lease two Airbus narrowbodies from Amelia (8R, Paris Le Bourget) over the upcoming peak tourist season in Thailand as it grapples with an aircraft shortage and the need to make a fleet replacement decision.
An Amelia A319-100 will work daily flights between Bangkok and Luang Prabang and twice daily flights between Bangkok and Siem Reap New Angkor International from December 1, 2024, while an Amelia A320-200 will fly thrice-daily flights between Bangkok and Phnom Penh. Amelia flight crews will operate the services, but some Bangkok Airways cabin crew will be onboard “to ensure a smooth and consistent in-flight experience.”
Amelia told ch-aviation that the A319 is F-HDSJ (msn 3727), a 144-passenger all economy class aircraft built in 2008. It will operate on behalf of Bangkok Airways between December 1, 2024, and March 29, 2025. The A320-200 is F-HBNA (msn 4335), a 178-passenger all economy class aircraft manufactured in 2010. It is contracted to fly for Bangkok Airways across the same dates.
In June, Bangkok Airways’ network management advisor, Peter Wiesner, told ch-aviation that a lack of aircraft was hindering the carrier’s ability to return to pre-pandemic levels of flying, although he was cautiously optimistic the situation would ease early in 2025.
According to the ch-aviation fleets module, Bangkok Airways operates 23 aircraft, including eleven A319-100s, two A320-200s, and ten ATR72-600s, although one A320 and one of the ATR – Avions de Transport Régional turboprops are in storage. The airline flies to 20 airports across Thailand and six neighbouring nations.
Weisner said that an aircraft order is on the horizon and that the airline is evaluating A220 and Embraer E2 types and is preparing to issue a request for proposals towards the end of this year with an eye on deliveries beginning around 2028.
More recently, CEO Puttipong Prasarttong-Osoth has confirmed that the airline is closing in on an order decision. A Bangkok Airways spokesperson was unable to provide further information.