GoFirst’s Regional Head based in Bangkok was reported to be exploring new business partnerships in the market with local carriers, hospitality, and event companies
Indian Low Cost Carrier, GoFirst, which claims to command the highest market share among Indian carriers to Thailand, has been working closely with the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) to look at opportunities beyond Phuket and Bangkok for direct connectivity and further penetration into other Thai destinations through interline agreements with local carriers.
The airline’s top management had a detailed meeting with Tanes Petsuwan, Deputy Governor for International Marketing – Asia & South Pacific, and TAT recently in Delhi. A top official of the airline told ETTravelWorld, that the airline was looking to consolidate its market share on the India-Thailand route by launching at least one new destination in the Southeast Asian country as well as going deeper into the market through interline arrangements with local air carriers.
The official did not name the new destination but said that the carrier was looking to open the route with one or two weekly flights to start with before expanding it further. He said that these were new destinations and the market demand had not been tested before. GoFirst’s Regional Head based in Bangkok was reported to be exploring new business partnerships in the market with local carriers, hospitality, and event companies.
GoFirst hopes to add some new international routes in the season starting October-November this year
As a first mover into Thailand in general and Phuket in particular, GoFirst has been seeing the highest market share among Indian carriers, according to the official said. Of the total passenger traffic between India and Thailand, the carrier has seen a 15 per cent market share. In terms of seat capacity share between India and Thailand, GoFirst enjoys 69 per cent market share among Indian carriers and 60 per cent market share of all LCC seats put together on the route, the official said mentioning the April-May, 2022 data.
GoFirst operates 4 daily flights from Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, and Kolkata to Phuket; and a daily flight to Bangkok. There has been a considerable increase in load factors since international scheduled flights have restarted. In May alone, there has been a 29 per cent rise in Indian traffic to Phuket.
Among its international routes, GoFirst flies to Maldives (3 daily flights) and the Middle East (Sharjah).
The official also mentioned that the flying range of the current A320 fleet has stopped the company from expanding its international network. That is why it is currently planning to operate to destinations in South East Asia (Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia); Middle East (KSA) and Turkey. GoFirst hopes to add some new international routes in the season starting October-November this year.
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