BANGKOK (eTN) – After losing money for the past two years, Thailand’s regional carrier Bangkok Airways is expecting now to make again a profit in 2010, most probably reach Baht 700 million (US$23.3 million). According to Bangkok Airways President Puttipong Prasarttong-Osoth to Thailand’s daily Bangkok Post, revenues are expected to rise this year by over 16% to THB 8.27 billion (US$275 million) with passengers’ traffic increasing by over 4% to 2.7 million and an average load factor of 70%. For 2011, the airline pins its hope in a jump in passengers traffic by more than 15%, helping the carrier to welcome over three million travelers.

Despite promising financial figures for 2010 and 2011, Captain Puttipong continues to have a rather conservative approach to the airline’s development. Instead of opening new destinations, Bangkok Airways President is likely to consolidate current routes and reopen routes it used to serve before 2008, when the economic crisis started. The airline is likely to expand again to China and Japan but also plans to add flights to South Asia out of Bangkok from next March. The carrier will operate six weekly flights to Mumbai and a daily frequency to Dhakka. It also recently opened a new domestic route from Trat to Samui and Phuket.

Bangkok Airways President also confirmed to temporarily abandon the idea of flying intercontinental routes, especially to Europe, with the delivery of its first Airbus A350-800 XWB. The airline will still keep its command of four A350 but would rather fly with the aircraft to China or Japan and maybe Australia. Aircraft will be delivered from 2015.