Thai Lion Air Launches Medan-Hat Yai and KL-Hat Yai Flights

Thai Lion Air has launched a three times weekly service linking Medan in Indonesia, with Hat Yai, one of the main gateways into southern Thailand.

Hat Yai is also Thai Lion Air’s second major hub, which means that passengers from Medan can make convenient connections in Hat Yai to other destinations in Thailand using Thai Lion Air.

“Rather than travel to Jakarta and then fly to Bangkok, people from Medan can fly to Hat Yai and then connect to a flight to Bangkok,” said Thai Lion Air executive managing director, Andi Burhan, adding that this is a faster, more convenient way to get to Bangkok.

Thai Lion Air’s Medan-Hat Yai service uses a new ATR 72-600 aircraft, while the Hat Yai-Bangkok service uses new Boeing 737-900ERs.

Thai Lion Air also has an ATR 72-600 passenger services from Hat Yai to the city of Surat Thani in southern Thailand, as well as to Hua Hin, a popular beachside town on the Gulf of Thailand.

In addition, the relatively new Thai airline has just launched a three times weekly ATR 72-600 service linking Hat Yai to Kuala Lumpur Subang in Malaysia.

“The decision to launch services from Hat Yai to Medan and Subang airport in Kuala Lumpur is part of our commitment to help develop passenger services between ASEAN countries,” said Burhan. “The response to the launch of the Hat Yai-Hua Hin and Hat Yai-Surat Thani has been encouraging. Because we are the first to serve these routes, we  re helping to create new markets for air travel. These new markets will take time to develop.”

Burhan also said Thai Lion Air is very pleased with the results achieved so far with its Bangkok Don Mueang – Chiang Mai and Bangkok Don Mueang – Hat Yai service. “We launched the Bangkok- Hat Yai service last month. We have five return flights per day on the route and plan to increase the frequency to six times a day in late April,” he added.

Thai Lion Air operates a fleet of four 737-900ERs and one ATR 72-600. By year end it aims to increase its 737-900ER fleet to eight.