Bangkok Airways
A Thai regional airline distinguished by its boutique-service positioning and privately operated destination airports.
Last updated August 21, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
Bangkok Airways Public Company Limited is a Thai regional airline headquartered in Bangkok and based primarily at Suvarnabhumi Airport. Founded in 1968 as Sahakol Air, it initially provided air-taxi services for construction, oil-exploration, natural-gas and other contracted operations in and around the Gulf of Thailand. The company moved into scheduled passenger flying in 1986, becoming Thailand's first privately owned domestic airline, and adopted the Bangkok Airways name in 1989. The airline developed a distinctive business model around regional tourism and airport ownership. Rather than relying only on major national gateways, it built and operated airports serving important leisure destinations. Samui Airport opened in April 1989 and became central to the carrier's network to Ko Samui. Sukhothai Airport followed in 1996, and Trat Airport opened in 2003 to support travel to the Ko Chang area. These facilities gave Bangkok Airways greater control over access to selected tourism markets and helped reinforce its identity as a boutique carrier. Bangkok Airways has historically operated turboprop aircraft such as the ATR 72, while also using aircraft including the de Havilland Canada Dash 8, Shorts 330 and, briefly, the Fokker 100. It entered the jet era in 2000 with Boeing 717 aircraft and added Airbus A320-family aircraft from 2004. The airline explored long-haul expansion during the 2000s, including a proposed Airbus A350-800 order intended to support routes to destinations such as the United Kingdom, India and Japan. The plan was ultimately cancelled in 2011 after delays to the aircraft program, and the airline remained focused principally on short- and medium-haul regional services. Its customer proposition is commonly expressed through the phrase "Asia's Boutique Airline." The brand emphasizes a more service-oriented regional experience, including complimentary passenger facilities at selected airports and a network designed around leisure destinations. In addition to scheduled passenger services, the business has operated or been associated with airport operations, airline partnerships and air-transport support activities. It previously wholly owned Siem Reap Airways in Cambodia, although that subsidiary is no longer a current part of the airline's operating identity. Bangkok Airways is listed in Thailand under the ticker BA. The company faced severe disruption during the COVID-19 pandemic, when traffic reductions caused losses and led it to seek government assistance. Its 2019 results, before the pandemic's full impact, included reported revenue of 29.418 billion baht and profit of 351 million baht. In the later 2020s, the carrier was managing an aging Airbus A319 and A320 jet fleet and evaluating Airbus A220 and Embraer E-Jet E2 aircraft as potential replacements, with deliveries being considered from around 2028. It also arranged a temporary wet lease of two aircraft from Amelia for the peak 2024–25 travel season. Bangkok Airways continues to operate as an active regional airline with a strong Thailand and Southeast Asia focus.
History
Bangkok Airways began in 1968 under the name Sahakol Air. Its earliest activity was not scheduled airline service but contracted air-taxi flying. Customers and contracting organizations included the Overseas International Construction Company, the United States Operations Mission and companies involved in oil and natural-gas exploration in the Gulf of Thailand. This initial role connected the business with infrastructure and energy projects and established its experience in operating aircraft in Thailand's developing regional aviation market. In 1986, Sahakol Air began scheduled services. This made it Thailand's first privately owned domestic airline and marked the transition from specialist charter and air-taxi work to a consumer-facing airline business. The company changed its name to Bangkok Airways in 1989, the same year that it opened Samui Airport on Ko Samui. The airport became a foundational asset in the carrier's strategy, allowing it to offer direct links between the island and Bangkok as well as selected Thai and international destinations. The airline's airport strategy distinguished it from carriers that simply operated from facilities controlled by government or third-party airport authorities. Bangkok Airways expanded this airport portfolio with Sukhothai Airport, which opened in 1996, and Trat Airport, which opened in March 2003. Sukhothai supported access to the historic and tourism region of northern Thailand, while Trat served the eastern coastal area and travel toward Ko Chang. Together, these airports helped the airline build a network around destinations with strong leisure demand. Samui Airport in particular became closely associated with the Bangkok Airways brand and its regional tourism proposition. During its first decades, the airline's fleet was primarily turboprop-based. The ATR 72 was a central aircraft type, supplemented at different times by the de Havilland Canada Dash 8, Shorts 330 and Fokker 100. The carrier entered jet operations in 2000 when Boeing 717 aircraft began joining the fleet. Airbus A320-family aircraft were added from 2004, giving Bangkok Airways additional capacity and speed on higher-demand regional routes. The company considered a move into long-haul flying during the 2000s. It studied wide-body aircraft including the Airbus A330, A340 and Boeing 787 for possible routes to markets such as the United Kingdom, India and Japan. In December 2005, it announced negotiations for six Airbus A350-800 aircraft configured for 258 passengers, with deliveries originally expected to begin in 2013. The order was cancelled in 2011 after continuing delays to the aircraft program. Bangkok Airways consequently retained a predominantly regional operating model rather than becoming a long-haul carrier. The business also expanded through associated airline and corporate activities. At one stage it wholly owned Siem Reap Airways in Cambodia, linking the wider group to the important Angkor tourism market. In 2007, Prasert Prasarttong-Osoth received a royal warrant permitting the display of the Garuda emblem. In 2017, Bangkok Airways received a new Air Operator Certificate after recertification to ICAO-related safety standards by Thailand's civil aviation authorities. The COVID-19 pandemic caused a major deterioration in operating conditions. The airline recorded a first-quarter 2020 loss after reporting a profit in the comparable prior-year period, while the collapse in passenger demand placed pressure on revenue and prompted a request for government assistance. The carrier's pre-pandemic 2019 results provide a useful baseline: it reported revenue of 29.418 billion baht, profit of 351 million baht and assets of 61.908 billion baht for the year ended 31 December 2019. The company reported 3,010 employees at that date. By late 2024, Bangkok Airways was addressing the age of its Airbus A319 and A320 jet fleet. Management was evaluating the Airbus A220 and Embraer E-Jet E2 as possible next-generation replacements, with a request for proposals and potential deliveries from around 2028 under consideration. To manage aircraft availability during the 2024–25 peak season, the airline arranged a temporary wet lease of two aircraft from Amelia. The company remains an active Thai regional airline whose identity rests on boutique service, tourism-focused routes, strategic airport operations and connectivity across Southeast Asia.
- 2024
Seasonal wet lease and fleet replacement review
[1]The airline arranges a temporary wet lease from Amelia and evaluates the Airbus A220 and Embraer E-Jet E2 as future fleet replacements.
- 2017
New Air Operator Certificate is received
[1]The carrier is recertified to ICAO-related safety standards and receives a new Thai Air Operator Certificate.
- 2011
Proposed A350 expansion is cancelled
[1]The planned order for six Airbus A350-800 aircraft is cancelled after delays to the aircraft program.
- 2004
Airbus A320-family aircraft enter the fleet
[1]Bangkok Airways adds Airbus A320-family jets, increasing capacity on regional routes.
- 2003
Trat Airport opens
[1]The carrier opens its third airport in Trat Province to serve the Ko Chang tourism area.
- 2000
Jet operations begin
[1]Boeing 717 aircraft join a fleet that had previously been centered on turboprops.
- 1996
Sukhothai Airport opens
[1]The airline opens its second airport, supporting access to Sukhothai and the surrounding tourism region.
- 1989
The Bangkok Airways name is adopted
[1]The company rebrands as Bangkok Airways and opens Samui Airport on Ko Samui.
- 1986
Scheduled domestic services begin
[1]Sahakol Air enters scheduled passenger operations and becomes Thailand's first privately owned domestic airline.
- 1968
Sahakol Air is established
[1]The company begins as an air-taxi operator serving construction, energy-exploration and other contracted operations in Thailand.
Products and positioning
A premium-oriented regional airline focused on convenient access to Thai and Southeast Asian leisure destinations, differentiated by boutique service and ownership or operation of strategically located destination airports.
Airline service · 1986
Scheduled regional passenger services
Bangkok Airways operates scheduled domestic and international passenger flights centered on Thailand and nearby Asian markets. Its network serves tourism-oriented destinations and regional cities, with the airline using a combination of turboprop and narrow-body jet aircraft over its history. The service proposition emphasizes regional convenience and a more attentive experience than a bare-bones short-haul model.
Passenger experience
Boutique airline service
Marketed under the identity "Asia's Boutique Airline," this offering is the brand's principal service differentiator. It connects regional flying with hospitality, leisure travel and selected airport facilities. The positioning is intended to convey a higher level of comfort and service than a conventional low-cost regional carrier, although the exact benefits vary by route, airport and fare conditions.
Airport operations · 1989
Samui Airport
Opened in 1989, Samui Airport is Bangkok Airways' best-known airport asset and a central part of its Ko Samui network. The facility enables direct regional access to the island and supports routes to Bangkok, other Thai destinations and selected international markets. Its operation reinforces the airline's tourism-focused model and gives it a strategic role in the destination's air connectivity.
Airport operations · 1996
Sukhothai Airport
Sukhothai Airport opened in 1996 as Bangkok Airways' second airport. It supports air access to Sukhothai and surrounding cultural and tourism destinations in northern Thailand. The airport forms part of the company's strategy of operating infrastructure connected with regional leisure markets.
Airport operations · 2003
Trat Airport
Trat Airport opened in 2003 and serves the eastern Thailand tourism corridor, including access toward Ko Chang. As with Samui and Sukhothai, its operation supports Bangkok Airways' focus on destinations where airport ownership or control can complement scheduled regional service.
Controversies
2021
Bangkok Airways discloses cyberattack and passenger data theft
Bangkok Airways said a cybersecurity attack discovered on 23 August 2021 resulted in unauthorized access to its information system and theft of passenger personal information, including contact, passport, travel-history and partial credit-card information. The airline said it was investigating the breach and verifying the compromised data and affected passengers.
Marketing campaigns
- Asia's Boutique Airline
Thailand · Southeast Asia · International markets
Bangkok Airways' long-running brand platform presents the carrier as a boutique alternative in regional aviation, emphasizing service quality, tourism connectivity and passenger experience.
Outcome. Established the airline's principal brand positioning.
- Football club sponsorship program
Thailand · Germany
Bangkok Airways has sponsored football organizations including Chiangrai United, Sukhothai FC, Chiang Mai FC, Trat FC, Lampang FC, Krabi FC, Kasetsart FC, Bangkok Christian College FC and Borussia Dortmund.
Outcome. Supports local and international brand visibility through sports partnerships.
Brand decisions
2024
Evaluation of next-generation regional jetsGeneration changeBackground
The airline's Airbus A319 and A320 jet fleet was aging, creating a need to assess future replacement aircraft.
Action taken
Bangkok Airways evaluated the Airbus A220 and Embraer E-Jet E2 and considered issuing a request for proposals, with deliveries potentially beginning around 2028.
Aftermath
No final aircraft order is identified in the supplied reference material.
2024
Seasonal aircraft wet leaseOtherBackground
Aircraft availability was constrained ahead of Thailand's peak tourist season.
Action taken
The airline arranged to wet-lease two aircraft from Amelia from 1 December 2024 to 29 March 2025.
Aftermath
The arrangement was intended to provide additional capacity during the seasonal demand period.
2011
Cancellation of planned wide-body orderStrategyBackground
The delayed A350 program undermined the timing and viability of Bangkok Airways' proposed long-haul expansion.
Action taken
The airline cancelled its planned order for six Airbus A350-800 aircraft.
Aftermath
Bangkok Airways continued primarily as a short- and medium-haul regional carrier rather than launching the contemplated long-haul network.
2005
Plan for Airbus A350-800 wide-body aircraftStrategyBackground
The airline explored long-haul expansion to markets including the United Kingdom, India and Japan and considered several wide-body aircraft types.
Action taken
Bangkok Airways announced negotiations for six Airbus A350-800 aircraft configured for 258 passengers, with deliveries initially expected from 2013.
Aftermath
The proposed order was cancelled in 2011 after continuing delays to the Airbus aircraft program, and the airline remained focused on regional operations.
Recent events
Bangkok Airways discloses cyberattack and passenger data theft[3]
Reported:
Bangkok Airways said a cybersecurity attack discovered on 23 August 2021 resulted in unauthorized access to its information system and theft of passenger personal information, including contact, passport, travel-history and partial credit-card information. The airline said it was investigating the breach and verifying the compromised data and affected passengers.
- Unconfirmed
AXA Thailand and Bangkok Airways partner to offer travel insurance[4]
Reported:
AXA Thailand partnered with Bangkok Airways to offer the Protective Wing travel insurance plan to passengers on the airline’s domestic and international routes. The plan provides medical coverage and protections for flight cancellations and lost or damaged baggage and personal effects.
Bangkok Airways launches Samui Year End Sale[5]
Reported:
Bangkok Airways launched the Samui Year End Sale promotion, offering promotional fares on domestic and international routes to Samui. Reservations were available November 1–30, 2019, for travel November 1–December 31, 2019.
Sources5 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/bangkok-airways · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled