Bangkok Airways sees revenues dive in dismal 2021

Bangkok Airways suffered more losses in 2021, as the coronavirus impact continued to depress Thailand’s tourism market. Operating losses for the full year ended 31 December 2021 were Bt2.5b ($77.9m), narrowing from an operating loss of Bt3.3b a year earlier, says the carrier. Overall revenues dived 44.5% to Bt5.7b. Passenger revenue at the airline business fell 78.7%, while revenues at the company’s airport business declined 75.7% - Bangkok Airways owns and operates airports at Samui, Trat, and Sukhothai. Net losses ballooned to Bt8.5b from Bt5.3b a year earlier. The sharp revenue drop reflects that Covid-19 impacted all 12 months of 2021, but only the last nine months of 2020. Moreover, Thailand suffered a third wave of the pandemic in April 2021, causing Bangkok Airways to suspend flights from July to September. The airline adds that the Thailand ‘Sand Box’ scheme for vaccinated travellers did little for its results in Q4. In 2021, Bangkok Airways carried just 536,000 passengers, down 71.5% from 2020. The year saw flights flown fall by two thirds to 8,694, ASKs fall 73.4%, and RPKS fall 75.2%.<br/>