Lighter airplanes open new horizons for PB Air

       PB Air is adding two new light aircraft to its fleet as part of its business optimisation and expansion plan.
       The airline, controlled by Boon Rawd Brewery baron Piya Bhirom-Bhakdi, has leased two twin-engine turboprop Saab 340s from AeroCentury, a Californiabased aircraft leasing and financing firm,for five years.
       The first of the Saabs, which are about 12 years old, is due to join the carrier's fleet, now comprising two larger Frenchmade ATR 72-500 turboprops leased from Bangkok Airways, by the end of September. The second aircraft is scheduled for delivery a month later.
       PB Air director Heribert Gaksch said the two Saab 340s were well suited to demand patterns on two new routes Bangkok-Surin and Bangkok-Chumphon - that it plans to introduce.
       They will also save costs on some of PB Air's existing routes which use ATR 72-500 aircraft whose 70-seat capacity has become excessive in the light of weak travel demand.
       "The ATRs are half-filled on some existing routes, like those to Mae Sot,"he said."If we could carry 25 to 26 passengers on each Saab 340 flight then we could break even."
       The 19-year-old airline hopes to inaugurate four flights per week to Chumphon, and three to Surin, later this year.
       The airline plans to keep the two ATR aircraft in its fleet, to serve its trunk routes to Lampang, Nakhon Phanom and Sakhon Nakhon, said Mr Gaksch.
       That means PB Air would renew its lease for the two ATRs, due to end in October, with Bangkok Airways.
       Rising jet fuel prices are currently PB Air's biggest concern. The airline is "slowly coming out of the mud of red numbers", said Mr Gaksch, adding that the carrier should break even by year-end.