NokScoot – the Thai-registered long-haul, low cost carrier joint venture between Thailand’s Nok Air and Singapore Airline’s Scoot – is set to strengthen its fleet and support its growth plan with the acquisition of seven more wide-body aircraft.

The medium-to-long-haul low-cost carrier (LCC) has solicited interest from 30 parties, including airlines and lessors, to supply seven B777-200s over the next two years. The carrier intends to use the additional aircraft to support its growth plan, mainly geared towards tapping fast-growing Thailand-China traffic.

In the long term, however, the carrier will eventually transition to the B787 but for the short- and medium-term, it will stick with the B777 as it will take some time to recoup the investment made in retrofitting the type.

NokScoot now operates three B777-200s and the expanded fleet will also enable NokScoot to make its foray into India, the other key destination on its radar screen, NokScoot chief executive Piya Yodmani told the Bangkok Post.

Piya said it is realistic to expect delivery of three aircraft to NokScoot by next year starting in May with the remaining four in 2018 when aviation safety oversight issues that Thailand has been facing will most likely be resolved, he said.

Thailand’s civil aviation authority was red-flagged by the International Civil Aviation Organisation early last year and then subsequently downgraded by the US Federal Aviation Administration. The red flag precluded Thai-registered airlines from opening new routes, increasing the frequency of existing flights to foreign countries or changing the types of aircraft they deploy.

NokScoot is now set to launch its sixth Chinese destination, Dalian, on 23 September with three flights a week. The five other Chinese cities covered by NokScoot from its base at Bangkok’s former international airport, Don Mueang are Chongqing, Nanjing, Qingdao, Tianjin and Shenyang.