THAI's air fares on the rise by US$5

BANGKOK: -- Thailand’s national flag carrier, Thai Airways International Public Company Limited (THAI), will increase its air fares through a US$5 fuel surcharge per ticket, taking effect from 1 May.

THAI’s top executives expect the increased surcharge to generate a 100 million baht to help the company cushion the impact of the rising cost of jet fuel.

Nearly all international carriers have already levied fuel surcharges, the THAI's President, Kanok Abhiiradee, told TNA on Wednesday.

Apart from the surcharge, THAI plans other measures to reduce its operating costs and increase revenues.

These include appointing more ticketing agents abroad to help attract a greater share of the “premium market”, first and business class passengers, the introduction of more call centres to handle domestic reservations and improving the airline’s Internet booking facilities.

These measures are expected to help generate an extra 2.5 billion baht revenue, said Mr. Kanok

The THAI board also approved a pay rise for staff at its meeting today, the chair of the THAI board, Wanchai Sarathulthat, told journalists.

The pay rise had been pending for three years, he said.

The increase in staff salaries is expected to cost the company an extra 900 million baht a year, but represents less than one percent in additional operating costs, said Mr. Wanchai.

The company’s management also promised to increase revenue this year by around an additional 1.48 billion baht over 2004.

The company's executives said they would forego bonus payments if the target was not met.

--TNA 2005-03-30

Thai Airlways are already quite expensive anyway, this will just be another incentive not to bother with them.

Being THAI I thought it would be $5 extra per mile, and $10 for foreigners of course!

Edited March 31, 200521 yr by terdsak_12