Thailand’s domestic travel scene is getting a welcome jolt of convenience and charm as Pattaya Airways prepares to take delivery of three new ATR72 turboprops this December. Think nimble planes, comfy cabins, and schedules tuned for hop-on, hop-off travel—perfect for anyone who’s dreamed of breakfast in Pattaya, a cultural afternoon in Chiang Mai, and a beachfront dinner in Phuket all in one weekend.
Small planes, big impact
The ATR72 isn’t just another aircraft model on the tarmac; it’s tailor-made for short-haul trips. Seating up to 72 passengers and boasting upgraded cabins, these turboprops are built for routes that bridge big-city airports and smaller regional strips. That means faster, more frequent links between Pattaya, Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket and a lineup of lesser-known gems popping up on domestic travel maps.
“These new aircraft will help connect more destinations, reduce travel times, and support Thailand’s vision of balanced and sustainable tourism,” a Pattaya Airways spokesperson said — and it’s hard to argue with the logic. More flights to more places means easier itineraries and a better spread of visitors beyond the usual hotspots.
What this means for travellers
For holidaymakers and weekend warriors, the benefits are immediate and deliciously practical:
- Shorter flights and more frequency — less time in transit, more time exploring.
- Multi-city flexibility — stitch Pattaya, Chiang Mai, Bangkok and Phuket into a single trip without second-guessing logistics.
- Weekend-heavy and festival schedules — expect extra flights around Songkran, Loy Krathong, and other high-demand dates.
Imagine catching an early bird flight from Pattaya to Chiang Mai, wandering the Old City by noon, and being on an evening flight to Phuket to catch the sunset. It’s the kind of travel that turns a long weekend into an epic micro-adventure.
Boosting local economies and easing airport congestion
The fleet expansion dovetails with a government-backed push to modernise Thailand’s transport network and ease pressure on major hubs. The Ministry of Tourism and the Department of Civil Aviation have publicly welcomed the move, pointing out that better regional connectivity funnels tourist spending directly into local shops, homestays, markets, and cultural sites.
“Every tourist who flies to a smaller city is supporting local shops, hotels, and cultural attractions,” officials note — and the math is simple. More flights to smaller airports mean more guests in provincial towns instead of everyone crowding Bangkok or Phuket. It’s tourism decentralised, and for many communities that could be a game changer.
Greener, cheaper, and surprisingly comfy
The ATR72’s reputation for low fuel burn and operational reliability fits neatly with Thailand’s push toward more sustainable tourism. Lower fuel consumption equals lower operational costs and a smaller carbon footprint per flight — a win for airlines, regulators, and eco-minded travellers alike.
Inside, the revamped cabins prioritize comfort on short hops: thoughtful seating, efficient storage, and cabin finishes aimed at making the hour-plus flights feel smoother. For an industry where tiny improvements translate to big gains in passenger satisfaction, those little touches matter.
Seamless travel from tap to taxi
Pattaya Airways is also upgrading the digital end of the journey. A revamped online booking platform and a slick mobile app promise easier connections and coordinated links to ground transport. That means your itinerary might automatically suggest a taxi or shuttle to the temple route or the beachfront resort — less scrabbling for local transport, more focus on the fun bit.
Special flights during festivals and holidays are on the agenda too, which should help travellers snag seats for peak-season experiences without the usual last-minute scramble.
What to expect in December
The first three ATR72s arrive this December, and while Pattaya Airways hasn’t released the full route map, industry chatter suggests an emphasis on high-frequency regional hops and weekend-driven schedules. Expect to see more flights between Pattaya and major hubs, plus new connections to up-and-coming destinations that until now were hard to reach quickly.
Final boarding call
For travellers, hoteliers, and local businesses, these turboprops represent much more than additional seats — they’re a ticket to easier itineraries, wider dispersal of tourist dollars, and a greener footprint for domestic aviation. Whether you’re chasing mountain temples, island sunsets, or Pattaya’s nightlife, the ATR72 rollout by Pattaya Airways promises to make multi-city Thailand trips more achievable and a lot more fun.
Keep an eye on the airline’s app and website for route announcements and festival flight schedules — December could be the start of a new era for quick, joyful travel around the Kingdom.
Cool! Short flights mean more weekend trips for me and my family, I can be in Chiang Mai by lunchtime and back for work on Monday.
Sounds fun until you factor in cost — more flights often mean higher ticket prices during peak times, not cheaper fares for regular travelers.
True, but the article says lower fuel burn could cut costs; if they pass savings to customers it could actually be cheaper for short hops.
Airline economics rarely work that nicely; savings often get eaten by airport fees, staff, and route marketing unless it’s subsidized.
Also consider noise and local disruption — more frequent flights could bother communities near small airports even if tourism spreads out.
As someone from Chiang Mai, I worry: will this mean crowds at temples and markets? Decentralizing tourism sounds great but might just make new hotspots crowded.
That is a valid concern; without managed visitor caps and reinvestment, increased accessibility can lead to overtourism in fragile cultural sites.
Then why not tax tourist flights and fund preservation? Airlines and the government should be responsible for mitigating impacts.
Agree with a tax, but it has to reach the local level, not vanish into general budgets where locals never see the benefit.
As a guide I say more flights = more customers = more income for small businesses, but only if locals get training and support to handle visitors.
Reality check: locals rarely get the best jobs. Tourism often pushes out small vendors as bigger operators move in.
Small props are good for cargo and short hops, but they’re noisy for villages. I’ve lived near an airstrip and it’s not cute.
Noise mitigation tech exists; proper flight paths and curfews help. The issue is enforcement, not the planes themselves.
From an economic standpoint, improved regional connectivity increases local multiplier effects, but only if supply chains and local capacity scale sustainably.
Can you explain the multiplier effect simply? I teach college kids and would like a short example to share.
Sure: a tourist spends money at a local guesthouse, which pays staff who then spend wages locally, amplifying the initial spending across the community.
So that means more jobs, right? My uncle runs a homestay and could benefit if flights bring visitors straight to smaller towns.
Apps that link flights to taxis sound handy, but what about digital privacy? Air passengers already get tracked a lot.
Privacy worries are real, but convenient door-to-door booking typically wins. People trade privacy for ease all the time.
Government backing smells like subsidies. Is this good public policy or corporate welfare that benefits a few investors?
Subsidies can be smart if tied to conditions: local hiring targets, noise limits, and environmental standards.
Exactly — too often there are no strings attached and taxpayers subsidize externalities without local gain.
I love the idea of micro-adventures, but will the cabins really be comfortable? Short flights still deserve dignity and decent bathrooms.
They mentioned revamped cabins and efficient storage; looks like they’re aiming for comfort even on short hops.
Comfort sells tickets, but airlines skimp when demand is high. Expect marketing promises to be better than reality at first.
Are ATR72s actually greener? Lower fuel burn per seat sounds good, but if they increase total flights the aggregate emissions could rise.
Correct — per-seat efficiency can improve while total emissions still climb if capacity and frequency increase without demand management.
So ‘greener’ is a relative term. We need lifecycle assessments, not just fuel burn figures, before celebrating a greener fleet.
Even so, for short hops turboprops often beat jets on fuel per trip. It’s not perfect, but it’s a step.
This could transform my business: ad-hoc itineraries, more day trips, and niche tours to lesser-known villages would finally be viable.
Local guides should be proactive — form partnerships with the airline to offer last-mile services and vetted experiences.
I’ve emailed their marketing team already. If they promote community-based tourism, locals can benefit directly.
But tour operators often get the lion’s share of revenue. Ensuring community benefits requires transparency and regulation.
I hear you; I only work with homestays and small vendors, and I share booking info with communities to keep profits local.
Finally — more flights from Pattaya means we’re not stuck commuting to Bangkok to fly out. Local tourism can finally boom.
Boom can mean price hikes for locals and gentrification, so be cautious celebrating without safeguards.
Fair point, but targeted policies could help balance tourism and resident needs if authorities act responsibly.
There’s also the infrastructure angle — small airports need good roads, waste management, and emergency services before they take growth.
I’m pushing local councils to upgrade services now; better to prepare than scramble later when flights start filling up.