Shortly after the deregulation of air transport in Thailand a number of new airlines commenced their activities. Amongst them was Air Andaman, which had been founded in 2000 and operated out of Bangkok-Don Mueang airport. The airline made its first flight on 29 October 2000 from Bangkok to Phuket. The first Air Andaman aircraft was a BAe Jetstream 31, which was followed by a second Jetstream 31 one year later. The domestic network was gradually extended to include Thai destinations like Chumphon, Mae Hong Son, Nakhon Ratchasima, Nan, Phrae and Surin. Later, Singapore was added as the only scheduled international destination and Chang Mai had become a secondary hub in 2003.

In the course of 2003 business deteriorated and the airline could no longer pay the leasing fees. The Fokker 50 fleet was parked at Singapore, the Fokkers returned to the lessor and eventually operations ceased in July 2004. By the end of 2004, the airline was defunct. In March 2006, Thailand's Civil Aviation Department decided to withdraw the airline's license. Plans by the two major Thai shareholders for a comeback in 2006 with German and Swiss partners did not come to fruition. Unrealized plans for fleet expansion included one Airbus 330, one Fokker 100 and a few Boeing 737s.

Air Andaman and Fokkers

In 2002 Air Andaman signed a contract for leasing three Fokker 50s, these were returned from service with SAS in Sweden. The first two started their delivery flight from Amsterdam to Bangkok by the end of January 2002 and were put in service after their arrival. Two months later the third F50 arrived in Thailand.

In May 2004, a TAM Fokker 100 was noted in São Paulo in full Air Andaman livery and it arrived in Bangkok on 1^st June. However, Air Andaman never took it in operation and in July 2004 it returned to Brazil, still in Air Andaman colors. By that time Air Andaman had ceased operations.

Air Andaman Fokker fleet

Air Andaman pictures

Air Andaman F50 HS-KLC (20187) resting at the apron (Ian Moy; Bangkok-Don Mueang, January 2003)

HS-KLD (20188) just after touch-down (Poowin Bunyavejchewin; Bangkok-Don Mueang, 10 October 2003)

F50 HS-KLE (20193) on short finals. (unknown photographer; unknown airport, July 2003)

F100 PT-MQS (11431) in full Air Andaman livery, but never in service. (JetStream Aviation; São Paulo-Guarulhos, 27 May 2004)

Credits

• https://aerotransport.org, accessed 20-01-2026.
• Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AirAndaman, accessed 27-01-2026.
• Steve Ozel, the Thai Aviation website https://www.thai-aviation.net/
• B. Eastwood and J. Roche. Turbo Prop Airliner Production List. The Aviation Hobby Shop, July 2007.