Thai Lion Air looking for growth further afield

Moves by no-frills Thai Lion Air (TLA) to expand its international footprint are gathering pace as its domestic network growth appears to be slowing. <br/>After its commencement of twice-daily services from its Don Mueang airport base to Yangon on July 22, the subsidiary of Indonesia's Lion Air Group has Vietnam as its next immediate target. Daily non-stop flights from Bangkok to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City are now set for launch in October, according to TLA chief executive Aswin Yangkirativorn. But China remains top of TLA's near-term international expansion plan as it gears up to tap the vast number of Chinese visitors to Thailand, their top overseas destination. TLA will add more cities to its roster of charter services and upgrading certain charter flights to regular scheduled flights with ticket sales being offered to the general public, rather being opened just for the Chinese market, starting later this year and next year, said Aswin. <br/>