(Reuters photo)Bangkok Airways Plc plans to invest in new routes, aircraft and airport improvements on the back of rising tourist arrivals to Thailand, a top executive said on Monday. The carrier plans more charter flights to China, more frequent flights on popular routes and two new routes from Chiang Mai to Hanoi and the island of Phuket to Yangon this year, President Puttipong Prasarttong-Osoth said. It planned to invest 1 billion baht to build an aircraft repair centre at Sukhothai airport, and the same amount to upgrade its airport at the resort island of Samui. The airline owns and operates the airports at Samui, Sukhothai and Trat, the hub for the resort island of Koh Chang. Bangkok Airways' expansion plans come as Thailand expects a rise of 6% in tourist numbers this year, after a jump of 9% to 35 million in 2017.

Source: Bangkok Post February 26, 2018 08:37 UTC