Thai Airways International (THAI) and Tiger Airways are working to ensure that their merged entity, Thai Tiger Airways, can begin service by March 2011. The two companies are now detailing the operational plan, including leasing of aircraft and finalising both domestic and overseas routes.

Piyasvasti Amranand, President, Thai Airways International said, “It is not necessary for Thai Tiger Airways to lease aircraft from Tiger Airways. It can look for the needed planes from any airlines that offer the most suitable and best deal. Thai Tiger Airways also has no obligation to use the Airbus 320 as it is an independent airline. Thai Tiger Airways might open new routes, such as flights from Bangkok to cities in China and India.” Whilst the CEO of the new budget carrier is yet to be decided, Amranand expects the parent companies to choose a suitable candidate by end of this month.

Thai Tiger Airways will focus mainly on grassroots clients who have never travelled by airplane. The flight services will concentrate on domestic and overseas routes served by its competitors. However, Amranand clarified that Thai Tiger Airways routes would not overlap with those of Thai Airways International and Nok Air - an affiliate firm of Thai Airways International.