Summary
- Thai Smile operated its final flight on December 31, following a merger into its parent company, Thai Airways.
- The rise in airfares for low-cost carriers led to the absorption of the carrier.
- With the subsidiary not operating, Thai Airways will resume domestic operations in Thailand with nine city pairs.
The low-cost subsidiary of Thai Airways, generally known as Thai Smile, operated its final flight on December 31, because the flag carrier of Thailand restructures its operations.
Thai Smile, which shouldn’t be the primary low-cost carrier to be absorbed into its parent company, follows the likes of Silk Air, which folded into Singapore Airlines, and Cathay Dragon, which now operates entirely under Cathay Pacific. This move is a results of the rise in airfares for low-cost carriers, leading legacy carriers to deal with their mainline operations. All future bookings under Thai Smile have been transferred to Thai Airways.
Photo: Markus Mainka / Shutterstock
The merger of the subsidiary was a part of the Thai Airways rehabilitation because the carrier has been restructured under Thailand’s bankruptcy court ruling. From this restructuring, Thai Smile was required to be fully merged by the top of 2023.
Eleven years of low fares
The wholly-owned subsidiary was formed on August 19, 2011, as Thai Wings. It commenced operations as Thai Smile the next 12 months, taking off on July 7. With a fleet of 20 Airbus A320s, the aircraft will probably be transferred to Thai Airways and deployed mainly on domestic and regional services.
The move will enhance the carrier’s operations, and improve service efficiency and aircraft utilization. Since mid-2023, Thai Airways has been regularly repainting the Thai Smile aircraft back into its standard livery. In keeping with data from ch-aviation, all but 4 aircraft remained under Thai Smile’s operating certificate by the top of 2023. The remaining aircraft are expected to be fully integrated into Thai Airways by the top of this month.
Photo: Eakwiphan Smitabhindhu | Shutterstock
Before the merger, the carrier operated 16 domestic services alongside 14 regional operations around Asia. The airline’s final flight, WE268, on December 31, was operated from Hat Yai International Airport (HDY) to Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK). Scheduled to depart at 20:45, the flight departed its gate a minute early at 20:44 and flew one hour to Bangkok, arriving at 21:46.
In keeping with Flightradar24.com, the WE268 was operated by an A320, registered as HS-TXP, and was transferred to Thai Airways on the day of its final flight. The nine-year-old aircraft first flew on September 9, 2014, before being delivered to Thai Smile on September 27. Reported by Airfleets.net, the aircraft is powered by two International Aero Engines (IAE) V2527-A5.
A return to domestic operations
With the subsidiary now a part of history, Thai Airways returns to domestic operations, operating routes to nine city pairs, which is able to include:
- Bangkok Suvarnabhumi – Phuket
- Bangkok Suvarnabhumi – Chiang Mai
- Bangkok Suvarnabhumi – Khon Kaen
- Bangkok Suvarnabhumi – Hat Yai
- Bangkok Suvarnabhumi – Chiang Rai
- Bangkok Suvarnabhumi- Udon Thani
- Bangkok Suvarnabhumi – Ubon Ratchathani
- Bangkok Suvarnabhumi – Krabi
- Bangkok Suvarnabhumi – Narathiwat
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