The global aircraft shortage has postponed the launch of Really Cool Airlines in Thailand.
Patee Sarasin, the airline’s CEO, announced that they are finalizing a lease agreement for two Airbus A330 aircraft, which are now expected to be delivered by the end of this year rather than in the first half.
He noted that commercial airlines are struggling to acquire aircraft due to strong demand for both new and used wide-body jets.
Boeing and Airbus, the two largest airplane manufacturers, are currently overwhelmed with orders, both existing and new, while their production capabilities remain constrained.
Airlines awaiting the delivery of new planes are unable to offload aircraft from their current fleet, which is impacting the market for used airplanes.
Patee explained that Really Cool Airlines aims to position itself as an innovative carrier, featuring in-flight technology and seating configurations that align with its standards, including at least 20-30% of seats allocated to business class.
“If we receive the first two aircraft in November, we will commence charter flights to Japan as planned, allowing us to fine-tune our operations for 3-4 months,” he stated.
“We are hopeful to initiate scheduled flights in the first or second quarter of 2025 to capitalize on high travel demand during that period.”
The airline has already established distribution channels through tour agents to help fill its capacity during the initial phase, according to Patee.
He also mentioned that talks are ongoing with airport authorities in various countries, including Japan.
According to the International Air Transport Association, global passenger demand increased by 8% in July year-on-year, with the Asia-Pacific region seeing a 12% rise in revenue passenger kilometers.
Regarding the government’s initiative to transform Thailand into an aviation hub, Patee emphasized that the new administration should uphold this policy, as the aviation sector has significant growth potential over the next 5-6 years.
“For Thailand to become an aviation hub, outdated regulations and complicated procedures need to be streamlined, as they present obstacles to business development, such as the lengthy process for aircraft imports,” he added.
