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'''Nok Airlines plc''', trading as '''Nok Air''' ({{SET|NOK}}; {{langx|th|บริษัท สายการบินนกแอร์ จำกัด (มหาชน)}}, from {{Transliteration|th|nok}} [{{lang|th|นก}}] meaning 'bird') is a [[low-cost airline]] in [[Thailand]] operating mostly domestic services | '''Nok Airlines plc''', trading as '''Nok Air''' ({{SET|NOK}}; {{langx|th|บริษัท สายการบินนกแอร์ จำกัด (มหาชน)}}, from {{Transliteration|th|nok}} [{{lang|th|นก}}] meaning 'bird') is a [[low-cost airline]] in [[Thailand]] operating mostly domestic services from Bangkok's [[Don Mueang International Airport]].<ref name="FI">{{cite news | title= Directory: World Airlines | work= [[Flight International]] | page= 56 | date= 2007-04-10}}</ref> | ||
== History == | == History == | ||
Nok Air was established in February 2004 as Sky Asia Co. Ltd. and started operations on 23 July 2004. As of March 2007, it had 130 employees and had reached around 1,400 employees by 2014.<ref name="FI"/> Nok Air began its first international service on 31 May 2007, with daily flights to [[Bangalore]], India, but suspended these | Nok Air was established in February 2004 as Sky Asia Co. Ltd. and started operations on 23 July 2004. As of March 2007, it had 130 employees and had reached around 1,400 employees by 2014.<ref name="FI"/> Nok Air began its first international service on 31 May 2007, with daily flights to [[Bangalore]], India, but suspended these in 2020.<ref>{{Cite news|last=JHA|first=URVASHI|date=2007-11-13|title=Nok Air too suspends flights to Bangalore|work=The Economic Times|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/transportation/airlines-/-aviation/nok-air-too-suspends-flights-to-bangalore/articleshow/2536815.cms?from=mdr|access-date=2020-05-31}}</ref> | ||
Nok Air serves the largest number of domestic routes within Thailand, with 24 routes.<ref>{{cite news | work= [[Bangkok Post]] | date = 29 March 2011 | title = Nok Air adds more small cities to plan | url = http://www.bangkokpost.com/business/aviation/229102/nok-air-adds-more-small-cities-to-plan}}</ref> | Nok Air serves the largest number of domestic routes within Thailand, with 24 routes.<ref>{{cite news | work= [[Bangkok Post]] | date = 29 March 2011 | title = Nok Air adds more small cities to plan | url = http://www.bangkokpost.com/business/aviation/229102/nok-air-adds-more-small-cities-to-plan}}</ref> | ||
Nok Air operates largely independently from Thai Airways, which has caused some friction between the two companies. To gain greater control of Nok Air, Thai Airways has tried to purchase the shares of other shareholders, notably [[Krungthai Bank]]. Although Thai Airways and Krungthai Bank are both state enterprises under the control of the [[Ministry of Finance (Thailand)|finance ministry]], Krungthai Bank refused to sell its shares in Nok Air to Thai Airways. The purchase would have lifted Thai Airways' stake in Nok Air from 39 to 49%.<ref>{{cite news | work= Bangkok Post | date = 24 January 2011 | title = KTB rebuffs Thai offer for Nok | url = http://www.bangkokpost.com/business/aviation/217790/ktb-rebuffs-thai-offer-for-nok}}</ref> Evidence of Thai Airways declining interest in Nok Air came in May 2017, when Thai Airways shareholding was diluted to 21.57%<ref>{{cite news | work = Destination Travel | date = 31 May 2017 | title = Airline Review – Nok Air | url = http://www.destinationtravel.info/reviews/nokair.html | access-date = 16 April 2018 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181102230410/http://www.destinationtravel.info/reviews/nokair.html | archive-date = 2 November 2018 | url-status = usurped }}</ref> as a result of not taking up their entitlement to a new share offering. As a consequence, Thai investor | Nok Air operates largely independently from Thai Airways, which has caused some friction between the two companies. To gain greater control of Nok Air, Thai Airways has tried to purchase the shares of other shareholders, notably [[Krungthai Bank]]. Although Thai Airways and Krungthai Bank are both state enterprises under the control of the [[Ministry of Finance (Thailand)|finance ministry]], Krungthai Bank refused to sell its shares in Nok Air to Thai Airways. The purchase would have lifted Thai Airways' stake in Nok Air from 39 to 49%.<ref>{{cite news | work= Bangkok Post | date = 24 January 2011 | title = KTB rebuffs Thai offer for Nok | url = http://www.bangkokpost.com/business/aviation/217790/ktb-rebuffs-thai-offer-for-nok}}</ref> Evidence of Thai Airways declining interest in Nok Air came in May 2017, when Thai Airways shareholding was diluted to 21.57%<ref>{{cite news | work = Destination Travel | date = 31 May 2017 | title = Airline Review – Nok Air | url = http://www.destinationtravel.info/reviews/nokair.html | access-date = 16 April 2018 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181102230410/http://www.destinationtravel.info/reviews/nokair.html | archive-date = 2 November 2018 | url-status = usurped }}</ref> as a result of not taking up their entitlement to a new share offering. As a consequence, Thai investor Nuttapol Chulangkul became the airline's largest shareholder, owning 23.77% of the company.<ref>{{cite news | work= Nok Investor Relations | date = 5 March 2018 | title = Major Shareholders | url = http://nok.listedcompany.com/major_shareholder.html}}</ref> | ||
Due to the preparation process to be listed on the [[Stock Exchange of Thailand]] (SET), the company name was changed to "Nok Airlines Company Limited" on 16 January 2006. Then, at its initial entry to Thailand's stock market, it was renamed "Nok Airlines Public Company Limited" (since 18 January 2013) with the trading symbol "NOK".<ref>{{cite web|title=NOK History|url=http://www.nokair.com/contents/about_nokair/our_company/en-US/|publisher=Nok Airlines PLC|access-date=8 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208213329/http://www.nokair.com/contents/about_nokair/our_company/en-US/|archive-date=8 December 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> | Due to the preparation process to be listed on the [[Stock Exchange of Thailand]] (SET), the company name was changed to "Nok Airlines Company Limited" on 16 January 2006. Then, at its initial entry to Thailand's stock market, it was renamed "Nok Airlines Public Company Limited" (since 18 January 2013) with the trading symbol "NOK".<ref>{{cite web|title=NOK History|url=http://www.nokair.com/contents/about_nokair/our_company/en-US/|publisher=Nok Airlines PLC|access-date=8 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208213329/http://www.nokair.com/contents/about_nokair/our_company/en-US/|archive-date=8 December 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> | ||
In late 2013, Nok Air announced a joint venture with [[Scoot]] (a low-cost subsidiary of [[Singapore Airlines]]) to form [[NokScoot]], a low-cost airline operating medium-to long-haul international services, based | In late 2013, Nok Air announced a joint venture with [[Scoot]] (a low-cost subsidiary of [[Singapore Airlines]]) to form [[NokScoot]], a low-cost airline operating medium-to long-haul international services, based at Don Mueang Airport in Bangkok.<ref>{{Cite web|title=NokScoot plans 2H2014 launch with two 777s, targeting Thailand-Japan and other North Asian markets|url=https://centreforaviation.com/analysis/reports/nokscoot-to-launch-in-2h2014-with-777-200s-targeting-thailand-japan-and-other-north-asian-markets-144869|website=CAPA – Centre for Aviation|access-date=2020-05-31}}</ref> The joint venture was shut down in 2020 as a result of the [[COVID-19 pandemic]]. | ||
A new company slogan, "Smiling Across Asia" was unveiled in June 2016. It hints at Nok's strategy of becoming the dominant regional carrier.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Kositchotethana|first1=Boonsong|title=Nok Air to repair image with new slogan|url=http://www.bangkokpost.com/business/news/1006261/nok-air-to-repair-image-with-new-slogan|access-date=10 June 2016|work=Bangkok Post|date=10 June 2016}}</ref> | A new company slogan, "Smiling Across Asia" was unveiled in June 2016. It hints at Nok's strategy of becoming the dominant regional carrier.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Kositchotethana|first1=Boonsong|title=Nok Air to repair image with new slogan|url=http://www.bangkokpost.com/business/news/1006261/nok-air-to-repair-image-with-new-slogan|access-date=10 June 2016|work=Bangkok Post|date=10 June 2016}}</ref> | ||
On 22 December 2017, | On 22 December 2017, [[Patee Sarasin]], the first Nok Air CEO (between 2004 and 2017), resigned from the company's board of directors.<ref>{{cite news|title=พาที สารสิน' ลาออก! พ้นกรรมการ 'นกแอร์'|url=http://www.thansettakij.com/content/244587|access-date=22 December 2017|work=Thansettakij|date=22 December 2017|language=th}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title="พาที" ลุกจากกรรมการ ลาพ้นนกแอร์ |url=https://positioningmag.com/1151376 |publisher=นิตยสารโพซิชั่นนิ่ง |language=th|date=22 December 2017|access-date=22 December 2017}}</ref> | ||
===Restructuring=== | ===Restructuring=== | ||
In February 2016, Nok Air cancelled numerous flights and issued several contradictory stories to explain the cancellations. On 14 February 2016, a work stoppage was caused by about 10 pilots, which was followed by the resignation of 17 pilots. On 25 February, several flight cancellations were announced, resulting in a loss of trust from the airline's customers.<ref name="BP-20160229">{{cite news|last1=Kositchotethana|first1=Boonsong|title=Mending Nok Air's broken wings|url=http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/transport/879660/mending-nok-air-broken-wings|access-date=29 February 2016|work=Bangkok Post|date=2016-02-29}}</ref> | In February 2016, Nok Air cancelled numerous flights and issued several contradictory stories to explain the cancellations. On 14 February 2016, a work stoppage was caused by about 10 pilots, which was followed by the resignation of 17 pilots. On 25 February, several flight cancellations were announced, resulting in a loss of trust from the airline's customers.<ref name="BP-20160229">{{cite news|last1=Kositchotethana|first1=Boonsong|title=Mending Nok Air's broken wings|url=http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/transport/879660/mending-nok-air-broken-wings|access-date=29 February 2016|work=Bangkok Post|date=2016-02-29}}</ref> | ||
There are issues of dissension between Nok Air management and cockpit staff, charges of nepotism | There are issues of dissension between Nok Air management and cockpit staff, charges of nepotism and questions about pilot loyalty. In its 2015 financial report released on 26 February, the airline acknowledged that the turnover of cockpit staff had exceeded the normal rate, well beyond expectations. There are just under 200 pilots working at Nok Air, considered too few for the scale of its operations.<ref name="BP-20160229" /> | ||
The problem arose after Thailand tightened its aviation standards to comply with the [[European Aviation Safety Agency]], disqualifying some pilots, Patee Sarasin, Nok Air CEO at that time, told local media. Thailand is under pressure to improve its aviation standards after US authorities downgraded the country's aviation safety rating in December 2015.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Thai budget carrier Nok Air cancels flights over pilot strike|url = https://news.yahoo.com/thai-budget-carrier-nok-air-cancels-flights-over-154409527--finance.html|publisher = Yahoo! News| date=14 February 2016 |access-date = 2016-02-15}}</ref> | The problem arose after Thailand tightened its aviation standards to comply with the [[European Aviation Safety Agency]], disqualifying some pilots, Patee Sarasin, Nok Air CEO at that time, told local media. Thailand is under pressure to improve its aviation standards after US authorities downgraded the country's aviation safety rating in December 2015.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Thai budget carrier Nok Air cancels flights over pilot strike|url = https://news.yahoo.com/thai-budget-carrier-nok-air-cancels-flights-over-154409527--finance.html|publisher = Yahoo! News| date=14 February 2016 |access-date = 2016-02-15}}</ref> | ||
To remedy its shortage of pilots, Nok may be permitted to boost the number of its foreign pilots beyond the 40 | To remedy its shortage of pilots, Nok may be permitted to boost the number of its foreign pilots beyond the 40 per cent cap mandated by Thai law according to Transport Minister [[Arkhom Termpittayapaisith]]. The 40 per cent pilot quota is set by the [[Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand]] (CAAT), which aims to encourage airlines to employ more Thais as pilots. Pilots, according to the Labour Ministry, are on the list of 39 jobs where Thai nationals are preferred, jobs ranging from barbers and secretaries to certain fields of engineering. Nok in February hired 32 new pilots, bringing their total to 212.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Mahitthirook|first1=Amornrat|title=More foreign pilots for Nok Air|url=http://www.bangkokpost.com/business/tourism-and-transport/878544/more-foreign-pilots-for-nok-air|work=Bangkok Post|date=2016-02-27}}</ref> | ||
On 30 July 2020, Nok Air filed for bankruptcy.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.marketscreener.com/NOK-AIRLINES-15933273/news/Thai-court-accepts-budget-carrier-Nok-Airlines-petition-for-bankruptcy-protection-31022829/|title=Thai court accepts budget carrier Nok Airlines' petition for bankruptcy protection|date=2020-07-30|access-date=2020-07-31}}</ref> | On 30 July 2020, Nok Air filed for bankruptcy.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.marketscreener.com/NOK-AIRLINES-15933273/news/Thai-court-accepts-budget-carrier-Nok-Airlines-petition-for-bankruptcy-protection-31022829/|title=Thai court accepts budget carrier Nok Airlines' petition for bankruptcy protection|date=2020-07-30|access-date=2020-07-31}}</ref> | ||
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! Major shareholders (as of 15 March 2019)<ref name=Share>{{cite web|title=NOK's Major Shareholders|url=http://www.set.or.th/set/companyholder.do?symbol=NOK&ssoPageId=6&language=en&country=US|publisher=Stock Exchange of Thailand|access-date=15 March 2019}}</ref> !! % of shares owned | ! Major shareholders (as of 15 March 2019)<ref name=Share>{{cite web|title=NOK's Major Shareholders|url=http://www.set.or.th/set/companyholder.do?symbol=NOK&ssoPageId=6&language=en&country=US|publisher=Stock Exchange of Thailand|access-date=15 March 2019}}</ref> !! % of shares owned | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | | Nuttapol Jurangkool || 24.33% | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | | Hathairatn Jurangkool || 22.15% | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | | Thaveechat Jurangkool || 20.94% | ||
|- | |- | ||
| [[Thai Airways International]] || 15.94% | | [[Thai Airways International]] || 15.94% | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | | Tham Chirathivatt || 0.37% | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | | Patee Sarasin || 0.37% | ||
|- | |- | ||
|} | |} | ||
== Partnerships == | == Partnerships == | ||
Nok Air | Nok Air a long-term partnership with Sabre and its subsidiary company.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Staff|first=Asian Aviation|date=2021-12-18|title=Nok Air signs long-term deals with Sabre, Radixx|url=https://asianaviation.com/nok-air-signs-long-term-deals-with-sabre-radixx/|access-date=2022-01-06|website=Asian Aviation}}</ref> | ||
==See also== | ==See also== | ||
Latest revision as of 10:01, 15 June 2025
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Nok Airlines plc, trading as Nok Air (Template:SET; Template:Langx, from Template:Transliteration [Script error: No such module "Lang".] meaning 'bird') is a low-cost airline in Thailand operating mostly domestic services from Bangkok's Don Mueang International Airport.[1]
History
Nok Air was established in February 2004 as Sky Asia Co. Ltd. and started operations on 23 July 2004. As of March 2007, it had 130 employees and had reached around 1,400 employees by 2014.[1] Nok Air began its first international service on 31 May 2007, with daily flights to Bangalore, India, but suspended these in 2020.[2]
Nok Air serves the largest number of domestic routes within Thailand, with 24 routes.[3]
Nok Air operates largely independently from Thai Airways, which has caused some friction between the two companies. To gain greater control of Nok Air, Thai Airways has tried to purchase the shares of other shareholders, notably Krungthai Bank. Although Thai Airways and Krungthai Bank are both state enterprises under the control of the finance ministry, Krungthai Bank refused to sell its shares in Nok Air to Thai Airways. The purchase would have lifted Thai Airways' stake in Nok Air from 39 to 49%.[4] Evidence of Thai Airways declining interest in Nok Air came in May 2017, when Thai Airways shareholding was diluted to 21.57%[5] as a result of not taking up their entitlement to a new share offering. As a consequence, Thai investor Nuttapol Chulangkul became the airline's largest shareholder, owning 23.77% of the company.[6]
Due to the preparation process to be listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET), the company name was changed to "Nok Airlines Company Limited" on 16 January 2006. Then, at its initial entry to Thailand's stock market, it was renamed "Nok Airlines Public Company Limited" (since 18 January 2013) with the trading symbol "NOK".[7]
In late 2013, Nok Air announced a joint venture with Scoot (a low-cost subsidiary of Singapore Airlines) to form NokScoot, a low-cost airline operating medium-to long-haul international services, based at Don Mueang Airport in Bangkok.[8] The joint venture was shut down in 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
A new company slogan, "Smiling Across Asia" was unveiled in June 2016. It hints at Nok's strategy of becoming the dominant regional carrier.[9]
On 22 December 2017, Patee Sarasin, the first Nok Air CEO (between 2004 and 2017), resigned from the company's board of directors.[10][11]
Restructuring
In February 2016, Nok Air cancelled numerous flights and issued several contradictory stories to explain the cancellations. On 14 February 2016, a work stoppage was caused by about 10 pilots, which was followed by the resignation of 17 pilots. On 25 February, several flight cancellations were announced, resulting in a loss of trust from the airline's customers.[12]
There are issues of dissension between Nok Air management and cockpit staff, charges of nepotism and questions about pilot loyalty. In its 2015 financial report released on 26 February, the airline acknowledged that the turnover of cockpit staff had exceeded the normal rate, well beyond expectations. There are just under 200 pilots working at Nok Air, considered too few for the scale of its operations.[12]
The problem arose after Thailand tightened its aviation standards to comply with the European Aviation Safety Agency, disqualifying some pilots, Patee Sarasin, Nok Air CEO at that time, told local media. Thailand is under pressure to improve its aviation standards after US authorities downgraded the country's aviation safety rating in December 2015.[13]
To remedy its shortage of pilots, Nok may be permitted to boost the number of its foreign pilots beyond the 40 per cent cap mandated by Thai law according to Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith. The 40 per cent pilot quota is set by the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT), which aims to encourage airlines to employ more Thais as pilots. Pilots, according to the Labour Ministry, are on the list of 39 jobs where Thai nationals are preferred, jobs ranging from barbers and secretaries to certain fields of engineering. Nok in February hired 32 new pilots, bringing their total to 212.[14]
On 30 July 2020, Nok Air filed for bankruptcy.[15]
Nok Air was delisted from the Thai Stock Exchange on 9 January 2025, following a final seven-day window for its trading operations from 27 December 2024 to 8 January 2025.[16]
Destinations
Template:As of, Nok Air flies (or has flown) to the following destinations:
Miscellaneous
Nok Air also offers ferry services to domestic island destinations as well as domestic and cross border coach services to Vientiane and Pakse in Laos in conjunction with other tour operators.[20]
Nok Air is known for their "beak" logo and livery, which includes a stylized bird's beak on the nose of the plane.
Fleet
Current fleet
Template:As of, Nok Air operates the following aircraft,Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
| Aircraft | In service | Orders | Passengers | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boeing 737-800 | 14 | — | 189 | 3 Parked |
| Total | 14 | — | ||
Former fleet
| Aircraft | Total | Introduced | Retired | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ATR 72-201 | 2 | 2009 | 2013 | |
| ATR 72-500 | 2 | 2012 | 2019 | |
| Boeing 737-400 | 14 | 2004 | 2013 | |
| De Havilland Canada Dash 8-400 | 8 | 2014 | 2023 | |
| Saab 340B | 8 | 2010 | 2014 | Operated by SGA Airlines as "Nok Mini". |
| Major shareholders (as of 15 March 2019)[21] | % of shares owned |
|---|---|
| Nuttapol Jurangkool | 24.33% |
| Hathairatn Jurangkool | 22.15% |
| Thaveechat Jurangkool | 20.94% |
| Thai Airways International | 15.94% |
| Tham Chirathivatt | 0.37% |
| Patee Sarasin | 0.37% |
Partnerships
Nok Air a long-term partnership with Sabre and its subsidiary company.[22]
See also
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References
External links
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