Thai Increases Fuel Charges – Again

[george]

THAI increases fuel charges – again

PHUKET: -- Thai Airways International (THAI) has announced yet another round of increases in its fuel surcharge on all foreign and domestic flights, to be applied to tickets issued on or after August 15.

The national carrier will raise the surcharge on one-way domestic flights from 200 baht to 300 baht; similar rises will be levied on regional and international routes, depending on the destination.

The news of the hike came in a release to travel agents sent out by Kalayapha Panich, THAI District Sales Manager for Upper-Southern Thailand.

THAI introduced a 100-baht fuel surcharge on domestic flights on May 1, 2005, then doubled it to 200 baht on July 1.

The airline says the newest hike is in line with rising fuel prices on the world market.

The surcharge on regional and Middle Eastern flight rout es, and also on the Bangkok-Sydney-Auckland and Bangkok-Rome-Madrid routes, will increase from US$20 (825 baht) to US$25 (1,031 baht), or local currency equivalent.

Intercontinental flights, including to other Australian and New Zealand destinations, will be increased from US$35 (1,443 baht) to US$50 (2,062 baht), or local currency equivalent.

The fuel surcharge applies to all THAI flights without exception, the statement notes.

--Phuket Gazette 2005-08-09

[Pattaya_Fox]

THAI increases fuel charges – again

PHUKET: -- Thai Airways International (THAI) has announced yet another round of increases in its fuel surcharge on all foreign and domestic flights, to be applied to tickets issued on or after August 15.

The national carrier will raise the surcharge on one-way domestic flights from 200 baht to 300 baht; similar rises will be levied on regional and international routes, depending on the destination.

The news of the hike came in a release to travel agents sent out by Kalayapha Panich, THAI District Sales Manager for Upper-Southern Thailand.

THAI introduced a 100-baht fuel surcharge on domestic flights on May 1, 2005, then doubled it to 200 baht on July 1.

The airline says the newest hike is in line with rising fuel prices on the world market.

The surcharge on regional and Middle Eastern flight rout es, and also on the Bangkok-Sydney-Auckland and Bangkok-Rome-Madrid routes, will increase from US$20 (825 baht) to US$25 (1,031 baht), or local currency equivalent.

Intercontinental flights, including to other Australian and New Zealand destinations, will be increased from US$35 (1,443 baht) to US$50 (2,062 baht), or local currency equivalent.

The fuel surcharge applies to all THAI flights without exception, the statement notes.

--Phuket Gazette 2005-08-09

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

The airline will see this as good way to increase company profits under the guise of oil price increases.

I wonder if they will be as quick to remove these surcharges should the oil price fall?

[silentsoundcentre]

After complaining to Thai Air about unfair raising the fare on some routs only for foreigners, I got this reply:

Thank you for your e-mail on 05th August 2005 regarding domestic ticket

fare.

We very much regret to learn of your dissatisfaction with domestic

ticket

fare shown in the Bangkok Post Newspaper that THAI will increase the

fare

only for foreigners.

We would like to take this opportunity to explain to you that , THAI

no

currently have policy to increase the domestic ticket fare for both

Thai or

foreigners. We truly regret for any misunderstanding caused to you in

this

respect.

However, additional fuel surcharge will be implemented on all our

domestic

flights at 355.- Baht for one-way ticket and 710.-Baht for round-trip

ticket accordingly with the ticket issue as of

15 August 2005 onwards. We hope to receive your kind understanding

about

the World Fuel Increment Crisis, thus affected our flight operation.

We assure that when fuel price situation returns to normal, THAI will

withdraw the fuel surcharge.

Thank you for taking the time to write. We assure you of our warm

welcome

whenever you join us on board our Royal Orchid Service. Meanwhile, we

send

you our best wishes.

Best Regards,

Thanida Saengsuwan

Customer Relations Service Officer

[britmaveric]

Hmmm doubtful - prices seem very slow to drop when oil prices drop. Pretty hypocritical. Only thing that usually forces airfare drops is if other airlines slash their prices.

[midas]

Look at this then regarding the airline that doesn`t want to treat foreigners fairly !!!!!!!!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/4141816.stm

[Jai Dee]

THAI AIRWAYS IS CONDUCTING A FEASIBILITY STUDY ON SERVICE ADJUSTMENTS

The Thai Airways interim president has revealed that income from servicing had declined due to the volatility of oil prices in the global market. Meanwhile, adjustments will be made to increase the company's income in the 4th quarter.

Thai Airways Interim President Somchainuk Engtrakul (สมใจนึก เองตระกูล) revealed that the company had earned an income of 37.128 billion baht in the 3rd quarter, which amounted to a loss of 3.125 billion baht. He pointed out that the important factors that contributed the loss were the global oil price volatility coupled with the increase in personnel expenditures. Mr. Somchainuk noted that the decline in operating result figures occurred to every airline expect for Singapore Airlines, which received the least impact due to its good management of oil costs.

The interim president insisted that Thai Airways will undertake adjustments in its operations to increase the number of customers, adding that the operating result will become better from now on. As for the short-term plan in service development, the company is considering increasing the quantity of food as well as servicing based on name-calling of the passengers, to create familiarity. A feasibility study has been assigned for the matters, and a conclusion will be drawn within 2 weeks.

Source: thaisnews.com

[Sphere]

They could have saved some money by not changing their livery, but that wouldn't benefit anyone except the passengers I suppose.

Edited August 19, 2005 by Sphere