Nok Air is a subsidiary of THAI and was formed to compete with the other Thai based low cost carriers like Thai Air Asia and One-Two-Go. Nok Air with its lively and distinctive colour schemes (Nok means bird in Thai and the aircraft are painted as brightly coloured birds with broad smiles painted under the nose) really stuck a chord with the Thai domestic market, who consider the airline to be very “sanuk” (fun).
Nok Air flies its fleet of (ex-THAI) 737 400s to a range of domestic destinations and also a couple of international routes. It’s success has caused some controversy with parent THAI, with whom it often competes for custom.
Nok Air have a code-share arrangement with SGA Airlines which runs 12-seater Cessna flights between Chiang Mai and Pai, Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai and Bangkok and Hua Hin.
Tickets can be booked through their website, call centre and also through 7-eleven stores across the country. They accept Mastercard and Visa credit cards only. You can see their flight schedule here.
We’ve flown Nok Air many times and find it to be our preferred low cost carrier in Thailand. The flight is indeed very sanuk, and having assigned seating (you can specify your desired seat when you purchase the ticket) is a distinct advantage over Air Asia.