NokScoot Airlines Company Limited (commonly referred to as NokScoot) was a Thailand-based low-cost airline, operating medium- to long-haul international services out of Bangkok's Don Mueang International Airport. On 26 June 2020, the airline ceased its operation and was liquidated as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.[1]

NokScoot
IATA ICAO Call sign
XW NCT BIG BIRD
Founded16 December 2013 (2013-12-16)
Commenced operations25 July 2014 (2014-07-25)
Ceased operations26 June 2020 (2020-06-26)[1]
Operating basesDon Mueang International Airport
AllianceValue Alliance (2016–2020)
Parent company
HeadquartersBangkok, Thailand
Key peopleYodchai Sudhidhanakul (CEO)[2]
RevenueIncrease ฿7,207.46 billion (FY 2019/20)[3]
Net incomeIncrease ฿−1,352.18 million (FY 2019/20)[3]
Employees450

History

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On 16 December 2013, Scoot announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding with Nok Air to establish a new carrier in Bangkok, operating on medium- and long-haul routes with a fleet of Boeing 777-200 aircraft.[4] NokScoot was a joint venture of Thailand's Nok Air and Singapore based Scoot.[5] The airline operated commercial flights out of Don Mueang International Airport after 20 May 2015.[6] Nok Air owned 51% of NokScoot, with Scoot, a subsidiary of Singapore Airlines, owning the remaining 49% – the Thai statutory limit for foreign ownership. The airline had an initial capital of 2 billion baht.[7]

NokScoot went out of business on 26 June 2020 as it could not recover from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic impact.[1] NokScoot returned three aircraft from the five-jet fleet to the parent company in Singapore by June 2020.[1] The airline company is going to be liquidated after Singapore Airline's low-cost arm Scoot offered to sell its 49 percent shares to Nok Airlines Plc. for a nominal sum of 1 baht, but the offer was not accepted. NokScoot had been unable to record a full year's profit since its inception in 2014.[8] The decision of liquidation left 450 employees out of work.[9]

Destinations

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As of June 2020, NokScoot flew (or have planned to fly) to the following destinations (at closure):[10]

Country City Airport Notes Refs
China Dalian Dalian Zhoushuizi International Airport Terminated [11]
Nanjing Nanjing Lukou International Airport [11]
Qingdao Qingdao Liuting International Airport [11]
Shanghai Shanghai Pudong International Airport [12]
Shenyang Shenyang Taoxian International Airport [11]
Tianjin Tianjin Binhai International Airport [11]
Xi'an Xi'an Xianyang International Airport [11]
India Delhi Indira Gandhi International Airport [13]
Japan Osaka Kansai International Airport [14]
Sapporo New Chitose Airport [15]
Tokyo Narita International Airport [16]
Singapore Singapore Changi Airport Terminated [17]
Taiwan Taipei Taoyuan International Airport [11]
Thailand Bangkok Don Mueang International Airport Base [11]

Fleet

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A NokScoot Boeing 777-200ER landing at Narita International Airport

NokScoot solely operated the Boeing 777-200ER, which were all obtained from Scoot's parent, Singapore Airlines. The first aircraft joined the fleet in November 2014.[18] The airline's livery was a hybrid between its parent airlines Scoot and Nok Air.[19] At the time of liquidation, NokScoot operated the following aircraft:

NokScoot fleet
Aircraft In
service
Orders Passengers Notes
J Y Total
Boeing 777-200ER 7 24[20] 391[21] 415 All returned to Singapore Airlines.
Total 7

Cabin

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NokScoot's aircraft were operated in a two-class configuration, Scoot Plus and Economy.

Scoot Plus

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There are 24 Scoot Plus seats in the airline's Boeing 777s. These seats are not lie-flat; the backs recline 8 inches (20 cm) and have a pitch of 38 inches (97 cm). Each seat is 21.7 inches (55 cm) wide and has a footrest and in-arm trays that can be unfolded partially or fully. Similar to its parent airline Scoot, all Scoot Plus seats have in-seat power, while the airfare includes complimentary meals and a checked luggage allowance of 30 kilograms (66 lb).[20]

Economy

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There are 391 Economy seats,[21] arranged to provide three different levels of comfort. Standard Economy seats have a pitch of 31 inches (79 cm); Super seats have a pitch of 35 inches (89 cm); and S-t-r-e-t-c-h seats, located at the front of each section of the economy cabin, have a pitch of 36 inches (91 cm). As these are bulkhead and exit row seats, there are no seats in front of them to recline back to invade their space, giving them the most legroom in the Economy cabin. Passengers in Standard Economy may reserve seats for a fee, while the fares for Super seats are higher than for Standard Economy seats; passengers choosing S-t-r-e-t-c-h seats will have to pay more compared to the Super Seats.[22] Passengers have to pay for meals in economy, either pre-paid or buy-on board. Passengers must also pay for any checked luggage.[23]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "NokScoot goes out of business". Bangkok Post. 26 June 2020. Retrieved 11 March 2021.
  2. ^ "Yodchai Sudhidhanakul, NokScoot: Profile and Biography". Bloomberg.com.
  3. ^ a b "Annual Report 2019" (PDF). Nok Air.
  4. ^ "SIA's new Thai joint-venture carrier NokScoot cleared for take-off". The Straits Times.
  5. ^ "NokScoot to be established as new low-cost airline". The Nation. 1 December 2013. Archived from the original on 8 February 2014. Retrieved 4 July 2014.
  6. ^ "NokScoot adds stopgap flight". Bangkok Post.
  7. ^ "Nok Air joins with Singapore's Scoot". Bangkok Post. 1 December 2013. Retrieved 4 July 2014.
  8. ^ "NokScoot Airlines to be liquidated". The Nation Thailand. 26 June 2020. Archived from the original on 29 June 2020. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
  9. ^ "NOKSCOOT SHUTS DOWN AMID LOSSES IN CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC". Khaosod English. 2 June 2020. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
  10. ^ "NokScoot to enter liquidation".
  11. ^ a b c d e f g h "Route Map". NokScoot. Archived from the original on 23 August 2018. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
  12. ^ "NokScoot adds Shanghai service from Feb 2019". Routesonline. 28 January 2019.
  13. ^ "NokScoot adds Delhi service from mid-Dec 2018".
  14. ^ "NokScoot adds Osaka service in late-Oct 2018". Rotesonline. 23 August 2018.
  15. ^ "NokScoot adds Sapporo service from late-Oct 2019". routesonline. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
  16. ^ "NokScoot Confirms Tokyo Launch from June 2018". Bangkok Post. bangkokpost.com. 23 April 2018. Retrieved 23 April 2018.
  17. ^ "NokScoot finally launches". anna.aero. 27 May 2015.
  18. ^ "Thailand's NokScoot takes delivery of first B777". ch-aviation. 26 November 2014.
  19. ^ "PICTURES: NokScoot reveals livery". FlightGlobal. 24 November 2014.
  20. ^ a b "ScootBiz". NokScoot. Archived from the original on 8 June 2018. Retrieved 1 May 2018.
  21. ^ a b "NokScoot Sale Guide Introduction" (PDF). NokScoot. 2 August 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 June 2017.
  22. ^ "Economy Class". NokScoot. Archived from the original on 22 June 2018. Retrieved 1 May 2018.
  23. ^ "The Frills". NokScoot. Archived from the original on 20 May 2018. Retrieved 11 March 2015.
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