Thai Smile
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| Founded | 19 August 2011 (asThai Wings) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Commenced operations | 7 July 2012 (asThai Smile) | ||||||
| Ceased operations | 31 December 2023 (re-integrated intoThai Airways International) | ||||||
| AOC # | AOC.0007[1] | ||||||
| Hubs | Bangkok–Suvarnabhumi | ||||||
| Focus cities | Chiang Mai | ||||||
| Frequent-flyer program | Royal Orchid Plus | ||||||
| Alliance | Star Alliance(affiliate; Connecting Partner) | ||||||
| Fleet size | 12 | ||||||
| Parent company | Thai Airways International(100%) | ||||||
| Headquarters | 89Vibhavadi Rangsit Road,Chatuchak,Bangkok10900, Thailand | ||||||
| Key people | Viset Sontichai (CEO) | ||||||
| Website | www | ||||||
THAI Smile Airwayswas a Thairegional airlineand a wholly owned subsidiary ofThai Airways Internationalheadquartered inBangkok.In 2023, it was announced that Thai Smile would be merged into its parent company, Thai Airways.[2]The airline merged into Thai Airways International on 31 December 2023. The full cessation of operations was fully effective on January 1, 2024.[3]
History
[edit]Foundation
[edit]On 20 May 2011, the Thai Airways board announced plans to create a new lower-cost airline, at the time dubbedThai Wings.[4][verification needed]The creation of the airline was announced by Ampon Kittiampon, the chairman of Thai's board of directors, on 19 August 2011.[5][verification needed]It began operations in July 2012.[5]According to Ampon, THAI Smile was intended to serve the market gap betweenlow-cost carriersand full service airlines.[5]The name THAI Smile was chosen from a pool of 2,229 entries in a contest to name the airline.[5]According to an official at Thai Airways, THAI Smile was planned to begin showing an annual profit of about five millionbahtwithin two years of the start of operations.[5]
Merger into Thai Airways International
[edit]In February 2023, it was reported that Thai Smile would be dissolved as a separate entity and merged with its parent company,Thai Airways International,by mid-2024 in an effort to reduce losses.[6]On 18 May 2023, Thai Airways announced that Thai Smile would be merged into its parent as part of the group's post-COVID reconstruction process by the end of 2023.[2]Thai Smile was set to cease all operations on 31 December 2023.
Corporate affairs
[edit]Thai Smile Airways was an officialsponsorofThai Honda LadkrabangandRatchaburi Mitr Phol.[7][8]
Destinations
[edit]As of 2023, Thai Smile flew to the following destinations. The airline served only domestic destinations before ceasing operations on 31st December 2023.:[9]
Fleet
[edit]
As of 2023[update],THAI Smile operated the following aircraft:[14]
| Aircraft | In service | Orders | Passengers | Note | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U | Y | Total | ||||
| Airbus A320-200 | 3 | — | 12 | 156 | 168 | Transferred toThai Airways International.[15] |
| 9 | — | 162 | 174 | |||
| Total | 12 | |||||
References
[edit]- ^"List of Thailand Air Operator Certificate Holders".Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand.5 October 2022.Retrieved5 October2022.
- ^abCross, Lee (2023-05-18)."Thai Smile to be Re-Absorbed into Thai Airways International".Airways.Retrieved2023-05-22.
- ^"Thai Smile Airways to cease flight operations on December 31".nationthailand.2023-12-01.Retrieved2023-12-02.
- ^"THAI to launch new budget airline".Bangkok Post. 20 May 2011.Retrieved22 August2011.
- ^abcde"THAI sister airline launch set for 2012".Bangkok Post. 20 August 2011.Retrieved22 August2011.
- ^bangkokpost - Thai Smile-THAI merger 'to cut losses'25 February 2023
- ^""ไทยฮอนด้า" ทุ่ม 100 ล้าน ลุยไทยลีก ตั้งเป้าท็อป 10 ".Retrieved29 January2017.
- ^"สายการบินแรก!ราชบุรีจับมือไทยสมายล์".Retrieved15 September2017.
- ^"Thai Smile Booking and Destinations".Thai Smile.Retrieved1 May2020.
- ^"THAI SMILE MOVES AHMEDABAD SERVICE TO THAI FROM SEP 2023".Aeroroutes.Retrieved24 August2023.
- ^"Thai Smile Resumes Kolkata Bangkok Flights".
- ^Liu, Jim (August 16, 2017)."Update 2: Thai Smile cancels Kota Kinabalu service from Sep 2017".Routes Online.Retrieved2022-01-25.
- ^"New Route! Fly Direct Flights from Donmuang to Chiang Mai".Thai Smile.
- ^Airbus Orders and Deliveries (XLS), accessed via"Orders & Deliveries".Airbus. 31 August 2017.Retrieved4 October2017.
- ^leah (2023-05-18)."Thai Airways - Thai Smile merger gets green light".Thaiger.Retrieved2023-05-21.
External links
[edit]
Media related toThai Smileat Wikimedia Commons
