International Civil Aviation Organization

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Not Smiling with Thai Smile

Thailand has a number of low cost carriers (Orient Thai, Lion Air, Air Asia) plus two popular “Premium Low Cost” airlines: Bangkok Airways and Nok Air, both of whom I have flown in the last year. In 2011, THAI Airways board began THAI Smile to compete in this market. The name came from a competition with 2,229 entries. For this flight, I was keen to discover the distinguishing marks of Thai Smile? Is the brand distinctive? Booking: 8/10 THAI Smile flies to about 13 domestic and one international destinations and is reportedly planning to expand international services. Confusingly THAI Smile use both…

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Unique Nok Air – Trip Report

a yellow and white logo

Today, I was one of three “farangs” (foreigners) on a Nok Air 737 completely full of Thai people travelling from Bangkok, Thailand to Phuket. I could not work out if this was a random coincidence or do most foreigners not choose Nok? Me? I have wanted to fly the bright yellow Thai “Premium Budget” carrier for some time and today’s flight gave me that opportunity! Nok is the 90th airline I have travelled with since I started flying in 1968! Nok means bird in Thai. They are largely a domestic operation with an international flight to Myanmar. Booking:…

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Thai air problems knock Nok Scoot

In Thailand Nok means bird. “Premium low cost” domestic carrier Nokair after ten years  of operation commands a healthy 27% chunk of the country’s  domestic market and a healthy profit margin. Nok has not expanded internationally with the exception of a couple of routes. This was due to change this year. Nok has joined with Singapore Airline’s low cost arm Scoot, to form low cost international carrier called imaginatively NokScoot with the slogan: Fly Awesome. Literally the name means: Bird leaves suddenly and quickly!  This new venture is 49% is owned by Scoot and 51% owned by Nok. The carrier aims to link China, Japan…

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MH 370 – THE report – Key Findings

A preliminary report on MH370,  submitted to the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO)  has been made public. There is not a lot of new information in the main report.  In the accompanying materials there is some new content. A  press conference was held earlier today. Malaysian time, with Acting Transport Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein outlining the information released and the next steps. Released with the preliminary report were audio recordings of conversations between air traffic controllers and the pilots of the 777. There are no indications of concern in the voices of the pilots. A document was…

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