SET-listed Bangkok Airways (BA) is expanding its footprint in China, Vietnam and Myanmar.
The full-service carrier is in talks with airlines in those countries to create alliances to pursue that objective.
President Puttipong Prasarttong-Osoth said the cooperation could take the form of Bangkok Airways operating its own flights to destinations in those countries or code-share partnerships, or both.
He did not name airlines it is talking to in China or Myanmar but did mention it is in discussions with flag carrier Vietnam Airlines.
Danang, the biggest city on the south-central coast of Vietnam, was listed as the prime target for the airline's debut in the socialist republic.
However, a Bangkok Airways insider said Phu Quoc island, a sleepy backwater off the coast near the border with Cambodia, is becoming a new tourism hotspot and is on the airline's radar screen.
One possible scenario is for Bangkok Airways to cooperate with Vietnam Airlines to offer direct flights from Danang to Bangkok, the insider said. For Phu Quoc, Bangkok Airways could operate its ATR 72 turboprops from Bangkok three or four times a week starting next October.
Mr Puttipong did not discuss plans to re-enter the Chinese market, from which it pulled out more than five years ago due to fierce competition, especially from low-cost carriers.
Bangkok Airways is reportedly in talks with Shanghai-based China Eastern Airlines for the Chinese relaunch, adding to its pool of 20 code-share partners.
With its positive economic outlook triggered by the recent successful election, Myanmar looms larger for the airline, Mr Puttipong said. He would not go into details but said but Bangkok Airways already had the most extensive coverage in Myanmar for a Thai-registered airline.
The airline operates three routes from Bangkok to Myanmar -- to Yangon, Mandalay and Nay Pyi Taw -- and provides regular flights from Chiang Mai to Mandalay and Yangon.
Prote Setsuwan, vice-president for marketing, earlier said the airline had been looking at the potential of serving Myeik and Dawei, although no date had been fixed for those services.
From Dec 1, Bangkok Airways will ramp up frequencies on several routes -- Koh Samui-Phuket to 45 flights a week from 35, Koh Samui-Singapore to 12 from 10, Chiang Mai-Yangon to seven from four and Chiang Mai-Mandalay to four from three.
BA shares closed yesterday on the SET at 21.80 baht, up 60 satang, in trade worth 243 million baht.