The Bangkok Post reports Nok Air has expanded its payment channels before adding new aircraft and new routes next year. Nok Air plans to offer a payment system with wide coverage through ATMs, mobile phones and the internet. Previously the airline has worked with Siam Commercial Bank and Krung Thai Bank, with about 20m cardholders between them and it has now added Bangkok Bank with 25m cardholders. Besides ATMs, ticket payment can be made at outlets of Counter Service Co, while Advance M Pay Co will offer payments via WAP-enabled mobile phones, which total about 2.5m. CEO Patee Sarasin said currently bookings via the Nok Air web site and credit card payment accounts for 40% of all transactions.
The carrier serves around 100,000 passengers/month and next year plans to add four more aircraft and open new domestic and international routes, especially to destinations in the region — with about three-hour flights. Nok Air expects to carry 1.8m passengers this year and has a load factor of 78-80% on each flight.