Thai low-cost airline AirAsia lifts off

Thai low-cost airline AirAsia lifts off

BANGKOK: Thailand's newest budget carrier AirAsia, 51-percent owned by the family firm of premier Thaksin Shinawatra, lifted off on Tuesday with its first domestic flight to northern Chiang Mai, officials said.

The inaugural flight departed with about 100 passengers on a 148-seat Boeing 737-300, with some paying as little as 99 baht (US$2.50) for promotional tickets.

The carrier made a shaky start on Monday, when a public relations flight carrying journalists and top executives to Chiang Mai was forced to turn back to Bangkok 20 minutes after take-off.

"We are glad and happy with the good response from people who are welcoming AirAsia and who understand yesterday's inconvenience," CEO Tassapon Bijleveld told AFP.

AirAsia also launched flights on Tuesday to the resort island of Phuket and the southern commercial hub of Hat Yai while a fourth destination, the northeastern city of Khon Kaen, will be served from Feb. 12. --AFP