Bangkok Airways Evaluating Public Offering

Thai carrier Bangkok Airways is looking at the possibility to offer an IPO according to media comments by the founder Dr. Prasert Prasartthong-osoth.
The move appears to be sound given a strong balance sheet and control of the highly profitable Samui airport and accompanying airlift to the resort island.
A public offering would assist in gearing up capital to further expand into the regional market and budget airline business.
Expectations are for the group to post nearly a THB900 million profit on operation this year.
News of the possible restructuring will disappoint tourism players in Koh Samui who were hoping for a lighting of restrictions to other carriers to the island.
Financial observers are quick to point out that a lead up to an IPO will track a bottom line focus by the airline, which is hardly an incentive to liberalize landing slots to competitors