British Airways snubs Bangkok in favour of elite travellers to Singapore as Thai Airways rises

[webfact]

Airports of Thailand (AOT) President Nitinai Sirismatthakarn (centre) met with the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) to discuss the lack of flight connections to Thailand which the airports boss revealed are only operating at 33% of the level seen in 2019. It comes as British Airways has postponed the resumption of its London to Bangkok service from the end of the year while Thai Airways is on the up with over 600% more daily passengers and plans to operate charter flights from the United Kingdom at the end of the year to pick up the demand among foreign tourists there.

 

by James Morris and Son Nguyen

 

As the government put off indefinitely its foreign tourism levy, this week, one of the country’s most successful conglomerates, Minor International (MINT) announced the addition of 60 new hotels and 10,000 rooms to its portfolio. This is positive news as a mild recovery is underway in foreign tourism with a key focus now on the improvement of flight connectivity amid fears that it may be as late as 2026 before the industry sees a return to normality with top executives in Thailand hoping that this will happen two years earlier by the end of 2024.

 

British Airways has announced that it is not renewing its London to Bangkok service later this year nor is there any guarantee the UK airline will resume the service in March 2023 as it focuses its resources on the more profitable London to Singapore route.

 

This announcement during the week comes with reports that Thai Airways which has increased its daily passenger rate by over 600% since the beginning of the year is planning to operate a charter flight service with UK travel agents to cater for an inherent demand in the United Kingdom with people interested in holidaying in Thailand. The news comes as airport officials and tourist chiefs in the kingdom held urgent meetings this week to see if flight connectivity to the kingdom can be improved with fears that it will be 2026 before the country’s vital foreign tourism sector returns to normal.

 

Full story: https://www.thaiexaminer.com/thai-news-foreigners/2022/07/27/british-airways-snubs-bangkok-for-singapore/

 

-- © Copyright Thai Examiner 2022-07-28

 

- Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

 

Monthly car subscription with first-class insurance, 24x7 assistance and more in one price - click here to find out more!

 

 

[bristolgeoff]

BA lose and Thai airways get  the fares and people on their flights.They win 

[blazes]

1 hour ago, bristolgeoff said:

BA lose and Thai airways get  the fares and people on their flights.They win 

Probably a lot of business class fares to rake in on the Singapore route.

Bangkok becoming a bucket and spade destination.

[Orinoco]

15 minutes ago, blazes said:

Probably a lot of business class fares to rake in on the Singapore route.

Bangkok becoming a bucket and spade destination.

More like a Fistful of Viagra and Boner destination. 

 

 

[Laughing Gravy]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

o discuss the lack of flight connections to Thailand which the airports boss revealed are only operating at 33% of the level seen in 2019.

So how can the TAT predict the tourist numbers that they do. Plus the flights have less seats on them.

I know how.

 

[Archie Baker]

Central,  north & north east UK can travel to Thailand via Dubai.  Cuts out a hectic and expensive trip to Heathrow. BA are not stupid they will have done the research.

[AhFarangJa]

The Middle Eastern airlines, (Emirates, etihad, Etc) quality of service is far superior to Bloody Awful airlines. 

[pops1]

In my experience trying to do business or even just work with Thai people is incredibly difficult. Always late and never prepared. Never taking responsibility for errors. Constant lying about business related issues such as customer feedback on performance. Worst and most difficult to deal with is never saying how they actually feel and drawing a curtain over their emotions so that you never know where you stand. It has always amazed me how companies can function profitably here.

[tandor]

37 minutes ago, Laughing Gravy said:

So how can the TAT predict the tourist numbers that they do. Plus the flights have less seats on them.

I know how.

 

..i think TAT work out of the same office as the Meteorological Department. ????

[Bim Smith]

The proposed charter flight for Thai out of London can only be done through Gatwick as they have only two slots at Heathrow both of which they currently use (Phuket and BKK). As Heathrow and Gatwick is asking for airlines to cut passenger numbers because they cannot cope, there is more to this story than meets the eye. They can only hope Eva ( if they haven't already) schedule their direct London BKK route and that middle Eastern airlines who also offer a far superior service, do so also. Having recently flown Thai on the LHR BKK route the service was appalling. Food inedible. Cut backs on inflight entertainment was a joke. They think we don't notice but we do. 

[jacko45k]

2 hours ago, bristolgeoff said:

BA lose and Thai airways get  the fares and people on their flights.They win 

With their currently capped capacity ex Heathrow and limited capability it makes sense for them to focus on more lucrative destinations.... Singapore would be an example....

Plenty of alternatives ex UK for Bangkok.... better ones I might add. 

[sandyf]

49 minutes ago, Archie Baker said:

Central,  north & north east UK can travel to Thailand via Dubai.  Cuts out a hectic and expensive trip to Heathrow. BA are not stupid they will have done the research.

In 2019 I was on flight from BKK to MAN, late into LHR and missed the connection. Had to stop overnight at Heathrow and when talking to the BA staff handing out the vouchers she said not a problem next year when flight direct from BKK to MAN.

Next year brought the pandemic and a lot of rethinking.

[Chongalulu]

3 hours ago, bristolgeoff said:

BA lose and Thai airways get  the fares and people on their flights.They win 

Would that be the 'win' of (pre pandemic) BA making £2 billion profit while Thai airways went bankrupt? 
It’s pretty clear BA's commercial managers are in a different league to Thai.There is reduced capacity on air travel and BA have realised there is more profit and reliability with other routes rather than the flip flopping uncertainty of Thai officials. They’d long ago switched their Australia stop over from Bangkok to Singapore which indicates a trend. 

[daveAustin]

40 minutes ago, AhFarangJa said:

The Middle Eastern airlines, (Emirates, etihad, Etc) quality of service is far superior to Bloody Awful airlines. 

Aside from whining boomers, never an issue with BA, flown them dozens of times all over. I always go direct where possible to avoid touching down through those places. Emrats not as good as they were. This is a loss for the traveller and will push up fares. 

[Jotho]

If Thai airways were able to shave a little off their prices, then they would get a good majority of the market as prices are high all over the field, and with their neutral status with russia should make it possible for them to accuire cheaper fuel... But knowing Thai, they will rather go the other way and increase prices

[Scouse123]

I am unaffected as I fly from Manchester and always as a rule, use Qatar, I do not like BA, but anything that gives any hint of a slap in the face to those arrogant dimwits in power in Bangkok, who think Thailand is the ' hub of the world '  is fine by me!

 

The only reason tourism airport fees for ' improving and maintaining tourist sites '  and additional fees put on the price of air tickets just in case of ' foreigners requiring hospitalization ' haven't been banged on our tickets yet is because the Chinese and others aren't coming in any kind of numbers. It certainly isn't through the kindness of their hearts.

[arithai12]

1 hour ago, Laughing Gravy said:

So how can the TAT predict the tourist numbers that they do. Plus the flights have less seats on them.

I know how.

 

Do you really need an answer to that, or are you just fishing for likes?

The majority of tourists (what TAT counts as tourists) do not originate from UK, and those who would travel only on BA or nothing else are probably close to zero.

If you want to pick at TAT go ahead, try something better though.

[Scouse123]

7 minutes ago, Jotho said:

If Thai airways were able to shave a little off their prices, then they would get a good majority of the market as prices are high all over the field, and with their neutral status with russia should make it possible for them to accuire cheaper fuel... But knowing Thai, they will rather go the other way and increase prices

The Thai way!

 

If less people are coming, charge them more to make up for those people who aren't coming!

 

They don't understand that they might make those tourists that do come ' cheesed off! '

 

Straight out of the Prayut, Prawit and Anutin anti foreigner manual.

 

 

 

 

 

[Boomer6969]

1 hour ago, blazes said:

Probably a lot of business class fares to rake in on the Singapore route.

Bangkok becoming a bucket and spade destination.

 

1 hour ago, Orinoco said:

More like a Fistful of Viagra and Boner destination. 

 

 

Consensus here would be: sex and beaches, cheap and dirty. 

 

Don't come to Thailand if you have higher ambitions.

 

It is likely that someone at BA doesn't want to sell subsidised airfares to certain types of plebes.

 

[Pattaya Spotter]

1 hour ago, pops1 said:

In my experience trying to do business or even just work with Thai people is incredibly difficult. Always late and never prepared. Never taking responsibility for errors. Constant lying about business related issues such as customer feedback on performance. Worst and most difficult to deal with is never saying how they actually feel and drawing a curtain over their emotions so that you never know where you stand. It has always amazed me how companies can function profitably here.

Maybe the issue was you...many foreigners have been very successful doing business in Thailand ????

[Bangkok Barry]

.. airlines across the world ..... are increasingly looking to prioritise flights where Premium and luxury seats can be sold to business and wealthier customers. This market does not include London to Bangkok which is seen as a service for holidaymakers and budget travellers who make up the vast majority of Thailand’s foreign tourists.

 

But but but - haven't they read that Thailand is going to be the number one choice of millionaires seeking time in the sun? The government said so.

[actonion]

1 hour ago, pops1 said:

In my experience trying to do business or even just work with Thai people is incredibly difficult. Always late and never prepared. Never taking responsibility for errors. Constant lying about business related issues such as customer feedback on performance. Worst and most difficult to deal with is never saying how they actually feel and drawing a curtain over their emotions so that you never know where you stand. It has always amazed me how companies can function profitably here.

Could 'nt agree more

[Fairynuff]

BA…. The World's (Least) Favourite Airline. I gave up on them years ago after more bad experiences than good.

[jacko45k]

6 minutes ago, Fairynuff said:

BA…. The World's (Least) Favourite Airline. I gave up on them years ago after more bad experiences than good.

After many years of good service I slowly got fed up of the offhand treatment and horror of transit in Heathrow..... and stopped using them. But I gave them a chance when a reasonably priced Club World ticket showed up 3 or so years ago..... an error on my part!

[Fairynuff]

1 minute ago, jacko45k said:

After many years of good service I slowly got fed up of the offhand treatment and horror of transit in Heathrow..... and stopped using them. But I gave them a chance when a reasonably priced Club World ticket showed up 3 or so years ago..... an error on my part!

I’ve flown every class except first. Dismal. Broken seats, broke the entertainment system, inedible food….. I have a list too long to go through here.

[ThailandRyan]

47 minutes ago, arithai12 said:

Do you really need an answer to that, or are you just fishing for likes?

The majority of tourists (what TAT counts as tourists) do not originate from UK, and those who would travel only on BA or nothing else are probably close to zero.

If you want to pick at TAT go ahead, try something better though.

So far as of July just over 3 million  tourists/travelers have entered Thailand, and they are still hoping for 10 million.   My bet is no more than 6 million for the year.

[Andycoops]

Good news and they won't be missed because of their miserable flight crew and <deleted> service, simply awful.

[Chetzee]

British Airways has nothing British about it these days,  it is a Spanish company , and pretty much a disgrace …it took millions in government hand outs then sacked a lot of staff .  It should be stripped of its name in my book . It’sdoing a disservice to the name British and trading on a false name in the pursuit of profit .   

[jacko45k]

5 minutes ago, Fairynuff said:

I’ve flown every class except first. Dismal. Broken seats, broke the entertainment system, inedible food….. I have a list too long to go through here.

I used up the last of my airmiles many years ago for a First one way Manchester-BKK. We of course left late as was usual.... but that flight was pretty good! I think they couldn't get the door shut, a shambles!

[sammieuk1]

Its a real bummer for me direct flight £60 for an extra bag great service and now useless Avios points ????