NokScoot is born

Neelam Mathews

Dec 16, 2013             

I thought I must have read it wrong - Nok Airlines and Scoot signing an MoU to establish a new low-cost airline to be based in Bangkok! How the dynamics of aviation have changed with the maturing of budget carriers in Asia.

The name of the game is beating recession and volatile economic times through adapting- and boy how have they done it!  How now, one wonders, will Thai AirAsia cope? Obviously, the pie isn’t big enough to go around. Or is it?

The new airline will be named NokScoot and will be based at Don Mueang International Airport. It will operate widebody aircraft on medium and long-haul international routes. Nok will have up to 51% and Scoot will have 49%. The initial investment will be THB2 billion (about SGD80 million).

“We are excited at the prospect of expanding Nok’s presence overseas, and to be doing so with the assistance of Scoot. It has always been Nok’s goal to offer Thais more choice and more value, of which this venture is yet another example.We’re also excited at the opportunity to encourage more inbound tourists, to boost the Thai economy,” said Nok Air CEO, Patee Sarasin.

Added Scoot CEO, Campbell Wilson: “Thailand is Asia’s premier tourist destination and

logical hub for Scoot to expand to. We at Scoot are very pleased to be working with Nok, an established and respected Thai low-cost airline, on the establishment of NokScoot. In

supporting Nok with Scoot’s experience in medium-haul widebody operations, we look

forward to developing a new market segment and offering Thai consumers and travellers to Thailand more travel options.”

The establishment of the new airline is subject to regulatory approvals. Details about its fleet, products and route network will be announced at a later date.