TAA’s load factor increased 3 percentage points to 83 per cent from the second quarter of last year, while the number of passengers increased 18 per cent 4.17 million.

Tassapon Bijleveld, chief executive of AAV and TAA, said the performance was a satisfactory continuation from the first quarter.

It was the result of the general robustness of the tourism industry, proactive work of the government and the Tourism Authority of Thailand, and the launch of seven routes during the period, he said.

The new routes are Chiang Mai-Changsha (in Hunan province, China), Chiang Mai-Khon Kaen, Khon Kaen-Hat Yai, Hat Yai-Chiang Rai, Hat Yai-Johor Bahru (in Malaysia), Bangkok-Kochi (in Kerala state, India) and Bangkok-Shantou (in Guangdong, China).

Frequency on the Hat Yai-Chiang Mai route was also upped to two flights daily in response to the growing popularity of the airline’s Hat Yai hub.

Two Airbus A320 jets were received in the period, bringing its fleet to 49 aircraft.

For the first half, TAA netted Bt2.59 billion on revenue of Bt16.7 billion, improved its average load factor by 4 percentage points to 85 per cent, and served 8.53 million passengers.

During the period, TAA launched 10 routes, allowing it to make the most of the advent of the AseanEconomic Community, strengthen its network of destinations and provide more opportunities for travel, it said.

In the second half, TAA is targeting more destinations in China, India and the CLMV (Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia and Vietnam) subregion, all of which have shown continued growth potential.

It will continue to take delivery of Airbus A320 planes to grow its fleet to 51 aircraft. This is the first time it has acquired the Airbus A320neo, a new environmentally friendly model using 15 per cent less fuel.

Whole-year targets are 17 million people served and an average load factor of 83 per cent.