Thai Airlines President No.1

[Rinrada]

Whatever you think of Thai Airways ...and certainly lately there has been a lot of pro and con cross talk with many critisms and from some quarters even..Praise you gotta admit that their boss has been certainly outspoken and has made a name for himself media wise...

It also appears or rather looks as though he has been recognised as "The Top Gun" within the industry and although I have been a bit critical on what he gets up to in the past I would have no hesitation of saying ..

Well Done Khun Kanok.

You DO have a great airline and lets hope it gets even better and better under your guidance in the future..

Smooth as Silk...even.....Chok dee na Krup

Thai Airlines

Mr Kanok Abhiradee, President of Thai Airways International, named winner of the 2005 "World Airline Leadership Award"

Mr Kanok Abhiradee, President of Thai Airways International, has been named as winner of the 2005 Skytrax World Airline Leadership Award.

Appointed to his post as President of THAI in 2002 when the world airline industry was recovering from the impact of 9/11, Mr Kanok cannot have imagined that SARS and more recently the Asian Tsunami would create further challenges at his own back-door in Thailand.

Factor into the equation a near doubling in fuel costs over the past 3 years (Crude oil $26 a barrel in 2002 to over $50 in 2005), and one appreciates the pressures that Mr Kanok and other airline bosses have been facing to maintain business stability - let alone profitability during this period.

Of course, few airlines can boast of a record that Thai Airways International has achieved over the years - having reported profits for 38 years in succession. The airline has ordered 6 Airbus A380 aircraft, and is adding more A340-500 and A340-600 to the THAI fleet during 2005/6.

Commenting on reasons behind Mr Kanok's nomination to receive the World Airline Leadership Award for 2005, Skytrax said ... "we examine many different factors within the selection process, and are looking for the airline President or CEO who has achieved change and improvement through true hands-on leadership. THAI is undergoing a real metarmorphis in terms of quality change, and this is much more than just cosmetic improvement."

"Whilst THAI is completing a corporate makeover and introducing new products across all cabins, this has to be allied to a new attitude amongst the whole THAI workforce - a fresh, invigorated and customer orientated style that THAI is famous for. It is quite clear that Mr Kanok is leading and encouraging these changes by personal example, and we are delighted to honour him with the 2005 World Airline Leadership Award" added Skytrax.

Appointed as President of THAI in May 2002, Mr Abhiradee joined the airline from Thailand's Small Industry Finance Corporation, where he served as President.

[tso310]

For a full list of the awards go here

http://www.airlinequality.com/2005/bestofbest.htm

I've used the site for years and have added comments about airlines. As far as I'm aware they are independant.

Edited August 5, 2005 by tso310

[Rinrada]

Thai ...Yum -Yum ...No.1

Best Economy Class Catering.

..World's Top 10

1.Thai Airways ...al that Keo Wan Gai

2.Austrian -Sawerkrawt

3.Saudi Arabian Airlines...Goat and Rice

4.Malaysia Airlines -Noodles

5.Qantas -Fried Kangeroo

6.Gulf Air -more Goat and Rice

7.SN Brussels Airlines -Chocs

8.Qatar Airways -Rice and Goat

9.Swiss -Rolls

10.Air France -Snails and chips

© 2005 Copyright Skytrax

[The_Moog]

They claim to be 'Passenger Surveys'

How many passengers know the names of Airline Presidents?

[Flysiam]

Whatever you think of Thai Airways ...and certainly lately there has been a lot of pro and con cross talk with many critisms and from some quarters even..Praise you gotta admit that their boss has been certainly outspoken and has made a name for himself media wise...

It also appears or rather looks as though he has been recognised as "The Top Gun" within the industry and although I have been a bit critical on what he gets up to in the past I would have no hesitation of saying ..

Well Done Khun Kanok.

You DO have a great airline and lets hope it gets even better and better under your guidance in the future..

Smooth as Silk...even.....Chok dee na Krup

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I think the 'popular opinion' of Thai Airways will always speak many more volumes than some industry 'award' Thai receives. I have seen no 'pro' talk re: Thai Airways....all quite negative actually. Their service is subpar, fare structures are predatorial (check out recent newspaper articles), and aircraft conditon often discgraceful.

This original post sounds more like an advertisement. If Khun Kanok can turn the airline around and make it better that some 3d world country's carrier - then I would echo your 'Well Done.' Until that time - he and the airline need a whole lot more than Chok dee na Krup.

Smooth as Silk???? What advertising firm are you with???

[Rinrada]

2004 Awards and can only get better...... must be doing something right whatever u think.....

so wot did the Romans ever do for uz.......

1. THAI received 2 prizes Commercial program from ASEANTA AWARDS FOR EXECELLENCE 2004, Best ASEATA Marketing & Promotional Campaign Award and Best ASEAN Travel Article Award.(99 cool things about Bangkok from SAWASDEE Magazine) in the occasion , The ASEAN Tourism Forum, Laos International Trade Exhibition and Convention Centre.

2. THAI was voted being One of the third Popular Airlines, One of the best fifth airlines and One of the best third services from the search of www.smarttravelasia.comfor year 2004.

3. THAI won the award of the National Flag Show, sort of state enterprizes in the area of districts and provinces.

4. Emirates Airline presents the Ground Handling Agent award to THAI, in the event of Customer Activities Conference, Partnership in Excellence , for THAI’s Bangkok station has been voted for ground safety control 3 years continuously.

5. THAI won the fifth runner-up Best Airlines of the world award and second award of Best Airlines in South East Asia from the research of customer satisfaction by Skytrax from 90 nations around the world though www.airquality.combetween June 2002 - March 2004

6. THAI ‘s Ground Support and Equipment Services Department was selected as a Country quality business handling 2004 in safety , hygienic and environment within workshop area , by Occupational Safety and Health Inspection Division ,Department of Labour Protection and Welfare.

7. THAI’s Cargo and Mail Commercial won 3 prizes from Department of Labour Protection and Welfare ,Good Handling workshop and Managing ,Occupational Safety and Health , Health and Environment.

8. THAI received 2 of The Best’s Asia International Airline 2004 from Korea Times Best Brand Awards 2004 and FOCUS Brand Award 2004 as votes from both newspaper’s reader in Korea.

9. THAI’s Royal Orchid Plus, the Frequent Flyers Program, received the second runner –up International Airline for Best services by Freddy Awards.

10. THAI was awarded the “Airline of the Year” TTG Travel Award (Travel Trade Gazette). TTG Travel Award recognized 51 organizations and individuals from the Asia-Pacific region.

11. THAI’s Royal First Class Lounge was ranked one of the fifth airline in the world by the Skytrax 2004/5 league for its combined quality of product and service.

12. THAI was voted the "Best Intercontinental Airline of the Year" at the Annual Danish Travel Awards Ceremony for the fifth consecutive year. Survey results were based on judgment concerning performance in the areas of inflight service, ground service, and town office service in Copenhagen.

13. THAI was awarded a plaque from the World Health Organization (WHO) for excellent in-cabin management of hygienic systems, in Geneva, Switzerland. THAI is the first company to receive this award due to introduction of preventive SARS measures that the airline has continually implemented following the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak.

14. THAI was ranked the second runner-up best airline of the world from 300 leading airlines by Wanderlust magazine.

15. THAI was awarded the fastest growing airline in Asia from the organizer of Airline Marketing Workshop at Athens Airport, Greece.

16. THAI’s Sawasdee magazine received the second prize of Avion Award from World Entertainment magazine.

17. THAI was presented PATA Gold Award 2004 in the best of electronic advertising category.

and the MOST importent...Yea...

18. THAI’s champagne was awarded Best Cellar in the Sky 2004 and the second runner-up of red wine from Business Traveler magazine.

[ovenman]

Well Done Khun Kanok.

You DO have a great airline and lets hope it gets even better and better under your guidance in the future..

Smooth as Silk...even.....Chok dee na Krup

Perhaps not as silky smooth as we have been led to believe? (followup story here)

[george]

THAI Airways International is outstanding on international routes.

In Business class.

[britmaveric]

THAI Airways International is outstanding on international routes.

In Business class.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I concur LA to BKK - quite enjoyed myself. Only gripe older 747, but apart from that FA(s) were lovely.

Edited August 11, 2005 by britmaveric

[The_Moog]

Kanok got fired today.

Read the 1st page of Bangkok Post.