Samui Airlift Could Rise Over 40%

A few months ago we had a talk with Bangkok Airways President Puttipong Prasarttong-Osoth and the airlines pending application to increase daily flights to the resort island from 36 up to 50.
The increase was set to go before the environmental regulatory board with the airlines solution to the island's airlift being to increase operating hours by one hour a day.
Rational for the change was that since the original restriction was put in place that new Airbus aircraft which now service the island are considerably less noisy and hence a review and amendment was warranted.
In an article in today's Bangkok Post the airline has reconfirmed the approval process is under review.
An increase of 32% in daily flights would be the benefit, but this would be a compounded rise in seat capacity of well over 40% given Bangkok Airways upgrading of more Airbus A319 and A320 planes with less flights on the older fleet of ATR-72's.
The media report also said the airline is looking at possible service to Samui from Shanghai and Taipei.
Bangkok Airways will also start service between Bangkok and Krabi in April and Bangkok to Mandalay in September.
While the long term solution to the Samui airlift conundrum remains a moving target the proposition from the airline certainly could substantially aid the destination in the short to medium horizon.