By Skies Magazine | August 2, 2016 Estimated reading time 2 minutes, 17 seconds.
Each aircraft features uniquely beautiful plumage, representing the colours of indigenous birds of Thailand.
Thai low-cost carrier Nok Air has just received its seventh and eighth brand new Bombardier Q400s. Each one features uniquely beautiful plumage, representing the colours of indigenous birds of Thailand, and are also individually named. “Nok” means bird in Thai/Siamese.
The initial Nok Q400 was delivered Aug. 27, 2014. It was the first Q400 manufactured with high density seating, which seats up to 86 passengers (previously 78 was common). This offers a decrease of seven per cent fuel burn per seat and provides an operating seat cost advantage of up to 17 per cent, compared to the Q400’s closest turboprop competitor.
Nok Air was the first to order a Q400 with high density seating, which seats up to 86 passengers.
Nok Air first ordered Bombardier Q400s in a contract announced on Nov. 19, 2013. The order included two firm-ordered aircraft and six purchase options, two of which were converted to firm orders on March 31, 2014, and two more later that year on July 16, at Farnborough. The delivery of this latest pair of aircraft completes the options from the original order.
Nok Air is the Bangkok-based, low-cost division of Thai Airways, and was established in 2004. It currently operates 21 Boeing 737-800NGs. It finalized a $1.45 billion direct order with Boeing for eight Next Generation 737-800s and seven 737 MAX 8s in May 2014, which will make it the first airline in Thailand to operate the 737 MAX. Nok formerly operated two ATR-72-500s, replaced by the new Q400s.
