Nok Air to expand after red flag lifted

Nok Air expects to fix the red flag issued by the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) within this year, expanding international flights and adding frequencies to domestic routes, with a goal to exit the rehabilitation plan by 2028.

- NARUMON KASEMSUK

The airline is confident there are sufficient pilots in Thailand despite a pay cut to curb operating costs and an exodus to other low-cost carriers that employ the same aircraft models.

Wutthiphum Jurangkool, chief executive of Nok Air, said the airline secured operating profit of 261 million baht in the third quarter, mainly attributed to fixed-cost reduction during the rehabilitation process.

He said the airline targets revenue of 5 billion baht in 2025 from 4.5-5 million passengers, down slightly from last year as the airline was prohibited from expanding international flights and adding frequencies for domestic flights.

In August, the CAAT suspended the airline's rights under Air Operator Certificate No.AOC.0006, citing deficiencies in operations, including personnel-related incidents and flight performance issues.

Mr Wutthiphum said the airline already presented documentation outlining its commitment to safety improvements and operational adjustments.