Bangkok Air backpedals on Lampang

Bangkok Airways has dropped plans to suspend regular Bangkok-Lampang flights in the wake of calls for continuation of the service.

In a statement released yesterday, the airline confirmed the thrice-weekly flights will continue unabated with the schedule and type of aircraft remaining unchanged.

The news comes ahead of a meeting next Monday called by the Department of Airports (DOA) that will include airline officials and representatives from agencies in Lampang to thwart Bangkok Airways' plan to cease the services on Oct 1.

The airline's reservation system for the Lampang route has also started accepting bookings again.

An industry source told the Bangkok Post that fare competition from budget airline Nok Air has been driving Bangkok Airways, a full-service airline, out of the segment.

"It's simply not a viable business to remain in with fares being too low," the source said.

Loss-ridden Nok Air operates two flights a week to Lampang from Bangkok's Don Mueang airport, using a Bombardier Q400 turboprop with 86 seats.

Bangkok Airways uses an ATR 72-500/600 series turboprop with 70 seats for the Lampang flights, which operate out of Suvarnabhumi airport.

It remains unclear why the airline opted to continue the Lampang flights.

DOA director-general Darun Sangchai suggested last week authorities could step in to render "support" so it could keep serving the route.

Nok Air plans to send four flights a week to Lampang at the end of October, possibly rising to five to six later.