The President of Thailand's Kan Air (KND, Chiang Mai) is in talks with potential investors to help with his ambitious plans for the airline's growth. Speaking with the Bangkok Post, Somphong Sooksanguan says that the increasingly tough domestic market means he is looking for international expansion in order to grow the business.

Sooksanguan is set to increase Kan Air's fleet from three – one ATR72-500, one Cessna (single turboprop) Grand Caravan 208B, and one Hawker Beechcraft Premier I – to seven, with the addition of three ATR72-500s and one A319-100. 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 to twice daily. Kan's president is also keen to expand into the international market.

"We aspire to fly to neighbouring countries such as Myanmar, China and India," he said.

Introducing international routes will, Sooksanguan believes, have a higher rate of return, particularly as a recent fuel tax increase will apply only to domestic flights.

Kan Air is reportedly in talks with two potential investors to fund its growth plan: one, a Chinese tourism firm, and the other an unnamed Thai investor.