Kan Air (KND, Chiang Mai) is set to scale up its fleet with the lease of an ATR72-500 turboprop finalised, and two more in negotiations, reports The Bangkok Post. The Thai carrier is also planning to acquire its first jet, an A319-100, for operations commencing 2Q17.

Currently, Kan Air deploys its sole ATR72-500 on domestic routes from Chiang Mai. It also has a Cessna (single turboprop) Grand Caravan 208B and a Hawker Beechcraft Premier I. The twin-engine fleet expansion will allow Kan Air to resume its Bangkok Don Mueang – Mae Sot route and add a flight from Bangkok to Phrae, while the addition of the A319 would allow it to increase its Don Mueang-Chiang Mai flights from once weekly to twice daily.

Earlier last year, Kan Air had eyed sourcing six A320 family aircraft after original plans to lease a trio of SSJ 100/95s from Sukhoi Civil Aircraft (Zhukovsky) fell through. Kan Air president Somphong Sooksanguan has said that he has faced difficulties acquiring new aircraft due to availability issues.