Thai Airways to continue to be national flag carrier despite financial woes

[webfact]

 

By Erich Parpart

 

Thai Airways International (THAI) will continue to be the country’s flag carrier, Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-ocha said on Monday, despite the company’s ongoing financial woes.

 

“Thai Airways is still and will always be Thailand’s flags carrier,” he told reporters at the Government House.

 

The premier said he had spoken to his economic team on the airline’s rehabilitation plan and he was “happy” that everything is improving. He said the airline still has liquidity with lowered monthly costs.

 

Full story: https://www.thaienquirer.com/34788/thai-airways-to-continue-to-be/

 

-- © Copyright Thai Enquirer 2021-11-09

 

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[RichardColeman]

Thai Airways appears about as successful currently as the Thai farce pass 

[GinBoy2]

I've always been bemused by the term 'flag carrier'.

 

As an American we've never had a flag carrier, although maybe PanAm back in the day was the closest we got.

 

Flag carriers in my mind tend to suggest State enterprises, the likes of BOAC (British Airways), Lufthansa, Iberia, Air Canada etc, all long since now firmly in the private sector.

 

I thought the idea when the Thai Government decided to drop their majority stake in this turd of an airline was to also drop the idea of it being the 'flag' carrier.

 

 

[alyx]

Great news ....Keep it up until December next year 

Flying back this month (hopefully) , holding two business tickets and two vouchers in excess of 100 K Baht with hem...all valid through 2022 ???? 

 

[toolpush]

Air Canada firmly in the private sector???? Surely you jest?

[kwonitoy]

9 minutes ago, toolpush said:

Air Canada firmly in the private sector???? Surely you jest?

renamed Air Canada following government approval. After the deregulation of the Canadian airline market in the 1980s, the airline was privatized in 1988.

 

Government now owns 6.4% due to the money they pumped in due to Covid

[zzaa09]

1 hour ago, GinBoy2 said:

I've always been bemused by the term 'flag carrier'.

 

As an American we've never had a flag carrier, although maybe PanAm back in the day was the closest we got.

 

Flag carriers in my mind tend to suggest State enterprises, the likes of BOAC (British Airways), Lufthansa, Iberia, Air Canada etc, all long since now firmly in the private sector.

 

I thought the idea when the Thai Government decided to drop their majority stake in this turd of an airline was to also drop the idea of it being the 'flag' carrier.

 

 

I might remind that despite their so called private sector status, almost all of those "freely independent" operating carriers enjoy a variety of govt subsidies and assorted gratuities. This is the case among all commercial airlines. 

[steven100]

They have little cash,  they allegedly made 11.1 bill baht during the first 6 months which few really believe,  they are hunting the banks for another 25 bill baht to continue,  they owe billions to creditors already, they cannot pay ticket refunds out. 

 

Now let me think for a second on what their future prospects may be like  !!!    Lol     never mind .

 

[zzaa09]

1 minute ago, steven100 said:

They have little cash,  they allegedly made 11.1 bill baht during the first 6 months which few really believe,  they are hunting the banks for another 25 bill baht to continue,  they owe billions to creditors already, they cannot pay ticket refunds out. 

 

Now let me think for a second on what their future prospects may be like  !!!    Lol     never mind .

 

Thai Airways might be the perfect reflection of a Thai state enterprise. 

Based on underhanded political graft and incompetent business acumen. 

[Nicholas Paul KNIGHT]

Well having flown most of the majpor Airlines, I can say quite openly that the two flights I took with Thai Airways was the worst in my air flying days. Overpriced and zero customers care, flew First Class once , worse than ANY Business class of other carriers.

Should have been broken up and Excellent private entities run it at a profit. 

[malibukid]

i was disabled after surgery and the staff would not help me down the steps.  worst airline i have ever had the displeasure to fly.  they have little respect for their customers.

Edited November 8, 2021 by malibukid

[bristolgeoff]

Did not think anything will change with thai airways being the offical carrier.Maybe not in good shape but gov behind them with cash

[Benmart]

3 minutes ago, Nicholas Paul KNIGHT said:

Well having flown most of the majpor Airlines, I can say quite openly that the two flights I took with Thai Airways was the worst in my air flying days. Overpriced and zero customers care, flew First Class once , worse than ANY Business class of other carriers.

Should have been broken up and Excellent private entities run it at a profit. 

I too share your experience. I will avoid Thai Airways always.

[d2b2]

5 minutes ago, malibukid said:

i was disabled after surgery and the staff would not help me down the steps.  worst airline i have ever had the displeasure to fly.  they have little respect for their customers.

That is what happens when the company and crew consider themselves more HISO than the paying customers

[suestra29]

I wonder if Prayut had any problems when he applied for the Pass. A missed opportunity I think. 

[Classic Ray]

Too many snouts of free and reduced tickets as well as military officers on the board will be removed if it is privatised. Can’t see that happening this century.

[aussiexpat]

I only used to fly them to see the pretty crew smile so I could get back into Thailand happy mood after a long absence.

 

Much better than the old angry dragons on Qantas ????

 

Edited November 9, 2021 by aussiexpat

[mtls2005]

They will never give up polishing this turd.

 

It's their turd.

[bojo]

5 minutes ago, aussiexpat said:

I only used to fly them to see the pretty crew smile so I could get back into Thailand mood after a long absence.

 

Much better than the old angry dragons on Qantas ????

Or British Airways for that matter!!

[hotchilli]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Thai Airways International (THAI) will continue to be the country’s flag carrier, Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-ocha said on Monday, despite the company’s ongoing financial woes.

Of course it will, the money pit will continue to be Thailands state carrier for the elite to travel in style and keep the salaries of certain directors rolling in.

Any other company would have sacked the inept directors and employed people who know how to operate an airline.

[hotchilli]

2 hours ago, GinBoy2 said:

I thought the idea when the Thai Government decided to drop their majority stake in this turd of an airline was to also drop the idea of it being the 'flag' carrier.

It will remain a flag carrier to save face and still firmly in state control.. 

[hotchilli]

1 hour ago, zzaa09 said:

I might remind that despite their so called private sector status, almost all of those "freely independent" operating carriers enjoy a variety of govt subsidies and assorted gratuities. This is the case among all commercial airlines. 

In Thailand maybe.

[malibukid]

9 minutes ago, aussiexpat said:

I only used to fly them to see the pretty crew smile so I could get back into Thailand mood after a long absence.

 

Much better than the old angry dragons on Qantas ????

i have switched to ANA better customer service, food.  they even called my GF in Tokyo for me to  tell her that the flight was departing lated.

[hotchilli]

59 minutes ago, zzaa09 said:

Thai Airways might be the perfect reflection of a Thai state enterprise. 

Based on underhanded political graft and incompetent business acumen. 

A perfect reflection of Thailand as a country..

Run by the inept and probably bankrupt.

[jacko45k]

Just now, hotchilli said:

A perfect reflection of Thailand as a country..

Run by the inept and probably bankrupt.

I was thinking along the lines of the Thai father in law or brother in law that owes everyone money and is lazy and shiftless..... yours works too. 

[bojo]

Just now, hotchilli said:

It will remain a flag carrier to save face and still firmly in state control.. 

Hopefully with improved invisible industry consultancy behind the scenes this time..................

[Count]

I’m glad and hope they stick around I’ve always had good flights with Thai Airways. There are no direct flights from Toronto to Thailand so I like to take an Air Canada flight somewhere and then carry on to Bangkok with Thai Airways. I have a business class flight booked through Heathrow beginning of December looking forward to it very much. Going home I have a flight booked Thai Airways to Beijing and then Beijing to Toronto via Air Canada. I do prefer EVA though I must say and if I can change it I will.

[aussiexpat]

1 minute ago, malibukid said:

i have switched to ANA better customer service, food.  they even called my GF in Tokyo for me to  tell her that the flight was departing lated.

I've switched to Singapore Airlines, half the price to BKK and prettier girls ????

[hotchilli]

2 minutes ago, bojo said:

Hopefully with improved invisible industry consultancy behind the scenes this time..................

Take advice from people who know what they are doing would mean breaking the "old mould"

that will never be tolerated by the old beneficiaries.

 

[hotchilli]

5 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

I was thinking along the lines of the Thai father in law or brother in law that owes everyone money and is lazy and shiftless..... yours works too. 

You're on point too.