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History

Bangkok Airways began as Sahakol Air in 1968, operating air-taxi services for oil and gas exploration firms, including Occidental and Esso, using Cessna 208 Caravans for offshore platform access. In 1984, Dr. Prasert Prasarttong-Osoth, a surgeon and aviation enthusiast, acquired the airline to support construction projects for the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand. Scheduled domestic services commenced in 1986 with a route between Bangkok (Don Mueang) and Nakhon Ratchasima, followed by Krabi and Samui, using a Fairchild Swearingen Metroliner.

Key milestones include:

• 1989: Rebranded as Bangkok Airways, introducing a new livery and expanding routes with a leased Boeing 737-200 and Dash 8 aircraft.
• 1990s: Built and opened Samui Airport (1996), a privately owned eco-friendly airport, followed by Sukhothai Airport (1996, now operated by the Department of Airports) and Trat Airport (2003). Chiang Rai’s Mae Fah Luang International Airport was also developed and is now government-operated.
• 2000: Became the launch customer for the ATR 72-500, enhancing regional connectivity.
• 2004: Launched international routes to Xi’an, China, and Hiroshima, Japan, followed by Singapore, Maldives, Hong Kong, and Luang Prabang, Laos.
• 2007: Relocated operations from Don Mueang to Suvarnabhumi Airport for better international connectivity.
• 2012–2014: Introduced Airbus A320s and A319s to its fleet, replacing older Boeing 717s and expanding capacity.
• 2019: Reported a net profit of THB 351 million (USD 10.4 million), with 6.1 million passengers carried, reflecting strong financial performance pre-COVID.
• 2020–2021: Faced severe financial strain due to the COVID-19 pandemic, suspending some routes and reducing operations. Launched a “Sealed Flights” program for repatriation and cargo, later resuming domestic services.
• 2022: Resumed international flights to Cambodia (Phnom Penh, Siem Reap) and Maldives, and introduced new routes like Bangkok to Hat Yai and Phu Quoc, Vietnam.
• 2023: Became the first Thai airline to resume flights to Shanghai post-COVID, strengthening its Asian network.
• 2024: Expanded with new routes, including Phuket to Chiang Mai and Bangkok to Udon Thani, and enhanced codeshare partnerships.

Operations

Bangkok Airways operates a network of 26 destinations across nine countries, focusing on leisure and business travel. Its primary hub is Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK), with secondary hubs at Samui Airport (USM) and Phuket International Airport (HKT). The airline serves:

Domestic Destinations (Thailand):

• Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi), Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Hat Yai, Krabi, Lampang, Phuket, Samui, Sukhothai, Trat, Udon Thani

International Destinations:

• Cambodia: Phnom Penh, Siem Reap
• China: Shanghai
• Hong Kong: Hong Kong
• Laos: Luang Prabang, Vientiane
• Malaysia: Penang
• Maldives: Malé
• Singapore: Singapore
• Vietnam: Danang, Hanoi, Phu Quoc