Betong operators seek Nok Air deal

Tourism operators plan to offer Nok Air a guarantee of 75% on seat bookings and want to negotiate with the airline to slash airfares in order to resume operations at Betong airport by April 1, targeting Malaysian arrivals via land borders who want direct flights to Bangkok.

Narin Ruengwongsa, vice-president of Betong Tourism Association, said operators will help secure 75% of overall seats, or 64 seats for each Betong flight, to sustain operations at this new airport.

Tourism operators would like round-trip airfares, which currently cost around 7,000 baht, to be reduced to 5,000 baht to maintain competitiveness.

He said tourism associations in Betong, the Tourism Council of Thailand and the Association of Domestic Travel will have a meeting with Nok Air on March…