Pilots from Boeing Flight Services (BFS) flew Nok Air's newest 737 to Bangkok on 15th March and kicked off a flight training programme with the airline to help strengthen the capabilities of Nok Air's rapidly expanding flight crew.  The aircraft was the third direct-purchased 737-800 to be delivered to the low cost subsidiary of Thai Airways. Nok Air has placed orders for a total of seven 737-800s.

The announcement comes at a time when, according to local media reports, the Nok Air flight schedule is being disrupted by a shortage of pilots.

The 2015 Boeing Pilot & Technician Outlook — a forecast of aviation personnel demand tied to projections for new airplane deliveries around the globe — predicts that 226,000 new commercial airline pilots and 238,000 new technicians will be needed in the Asia-Pacific region through 2034.

Asia leads the world for demand of new commercial airplane deliveries over the next 20 years. By 2034, 14,330 new airplanes worth $2.2tn will be needed in the region, according to Boeing's 2015 Current Market Outlook.