**Budget carrier will use parent’s name **
Published: 15/09/2010 at 12:00 AM
Newspaper section: Business
The business known as One-Two-Go Airlines, Thailand’s first budget carrier, has ceased to exist as its founders have dropped the name that was linked to the deadly Phuket crash in September 2007.
The One-Two-Go brand still graces some MD-80/90 jets despite the rebranding.
One-Two-Go technically no longer exists, with its official registration at the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) removed, its flight code OG deleted and the brand name disappearing from the public eye.
The carrier, which lately had been known as One-Two-Go by Orient Thai, now uses the name of its parent company, Orient Thai Airlines, which previously operated the international scheduled and charter flights.
At the same time, One-Two-Go’s flight code was replaced by the OX code of Orient Thai, and visitors to its website www.Fly12go.com are now being redirected to a renamed website, www.flyorientthai.com, in a move seen as part of its image makeover.
The exercise is mainly about branding, as much of One-Two-Go’s operations, including its aircraft, network, manpower, service culture and ownership under the Tantiprasongchai family remain unchanged.
Orient Thai chairman Kajit Habanananda acknowledged that the company wanted to put an end to public confusion arising from seeing two brands _ One-Two-Go and Orient Thai.
It was also consistent with suggestions from the DCA which wanted the company to clearly define its brands, Mr Kajit said.
On paper, One-Two-Go was operated as an arm of the privately owned Orient Thai which “lent” aircraft to One-Two-Go, while Orient Thai holds the flying licence issued by the DCA.
Abandoning the One-Two-Go brand comes as the group attempts to create a new era of growth and compete better with other budget carriers.
As part of the effort, Orient Thai plans to modernise its ageing fleet, now with six McDonnell Douglas MD-80/90 series jets, each with 172 seats, and five Boeing 747s active.
Last July, Orient Thai signed a letter of intent with the Moscow-based jet maker Sukhoi Civil Aircraft (SCAC) for 12 Sukhoi Superjet 100/95B models with 12 more as an option.
The narrow-body SSJ100s will replace the MD-80/90 fleet in order to broaden its short-haul route network. Deliveries of the twin-engine 98-seat aircraft, valued at $31 million each, are expected between 2011 and 2014, according to SCAC.
The Superjet 100 is still undergoing certification, so no commercial orders have been fulfilled yet. However, SCAC has hoped to hand over the first four to clients by the end of this year.
One-Two-Go operates point-to-point flights from its base at Don Mueang Airport to Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Phuket, Hat Yai and Trang.
The airline also has a partnership agreement with SGA Airlines to transfer its passengers on the Chiang Mai-Pai (Mae Hong Son) route which is served by the commuter carrier which flies Cessna 208B Grand Caravan propeller planes with 12 seats on the route.
Orient Thai operates only one scheduled route _ Bangkok-Hong Kong, while handling charter flights for clients such as international organisations and carrying Muslims heading to Mecca for the Hajj pilgrimage.
Chartered flights constitute a major part of Orient Thai’s revenue.
Bron: Bangkok Post
