Firefly to move Bangkok flights to Suvarnabhumi Airport

Firefly, a Malaysian budget airline, has announced it will be shifting its Bangkok flights from Don Mueang Airport (DMK) to Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) effective May 1st, 2024.

Firefly, initially introduced direct flights from Penang to Bangkok’s Don Mueang International Airport (DMK) from November 3.

Firefly daily flights using Boeing 737-800

The move will see all Firefly flights between Penang International Airport (PEN) and Bangkok operate out of Suvarnabhumi Airport.

The airline will maintain a daily service using Boeing 737-800 aircraft.

Flight schedules show FY3620 departing Penang at 8:10 PM and arriving in Bangkok at 9:00 PM.

The return flight, FY3621, will depart Bangkok at 10:00 PM and arrive in Penang at 12:50 AM the following day.

Shift in strategy after launch at Don Mueang

The airline started five weekly flights, marking its second route into Thailand, following the launch of direct flights to Phuket last year.

The route was upgraded to daily service during the peak travel season to Thailand earlier this year.

The move to Suvarnabhumi Airport places Firefly in direct competition with THAI, which operates double daily flights between Bangkok and Penang.

Other airlines serving the route include AirAsia (17 flights weekly) and Thai Lion Air (3 flights weekly on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays).

While fares on the PEN-DMK route were previously competitive, the competition landscape at Suvarnabhumi Airport may lead to price adjustments.

The shift to Suvarnabhumi Airport suggests a strategic change for Firefly on this route. Whether this move will prove successful in the face of increased competition remains to be seen.

Passengers flying between Penang and Bangkok will have to adjust to the change in arrival and departure airports starting May 1st.