Asian helicopter charter operator Ascent is to launch in Thailand later this year, offering an on-demand, by-the-seat service between a number of locations in the country.
The service, which is being set up with Thai helicopter operators, Si-Chang Flying Service (SFS) and Advance Aviation will operate in locations such as Bangkok, Chonburi, and Rayong for business flights and Hua Hin and Pattaya for leisure. Ascent, which bills itself as an urban mobility service, already operates in the Philippines with flights between more than 15 sites, including international airports, central business districts, and popular leisure destinations.
Ascent is launching in Thailand with a mobile phone app from which customers can directly book flights at prices starting from 8,000THB (US$260) per seat. All Covid-19 protocols such as enhanced aircraft cleaning and frequent health checks on crew are to be enforced on the service.
Lionel Sinai-Sinelnikoff, founder and CEO of Ascent said, “The dynamism of Bangkok make mobility a great challenge for the business community, commuters, and tourists. With Ascent, we believe we can elevate mobility to the skies to better connect locations and skip the traffic seamlessly in a safe, and more affordable manner.
“We are excited to open this new chapter of Ascent with partners such as Advance Aviation and SFS Aviation, which have driven the industry in Thailand for so long and will ensure our users with the highest operational and safety standards.”
Chai Nasylvanta, president and CEO of Advance Aviation said, “Urban air mobility has been a growing trend in the last few years in Asia. In line with our focus on private VIP aviation services, our clients can now regain control of their time with Ascent by purchasing flights by the seat, making short-haul trips more cost-efficient, all in a safe environment.
Tisanu Ratanarat, CEO of SFS Aviation said, “SFS Aviation has pioneered the operations of helicopters in Thailand. It is natural for us to join Ascent in initiating this next phase of mobility. With our flight options built into Ascent, users can seamlessly purchase flights of SFS Aviation. This is a new mobility solution for many and a complementary service to our existing clients.”
Ascent users will also be able to add services to their flight at the time of booking including luggage transport, first and last-mile ground transport and fast track amongst other services, directly from the platform. Ascent also offers individual and business packages that can be used regionally across all of Ascent’s solutions, with preferential rates and services.
