SIA to cancel 19 flights as travellers avoid Bangkok
The Nation

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BANGKOK: -- Singapore Airlines will axe 19 flights to Bangkok in the coming weeks as political tensions in the Thai capital keep some travellers away.

Travel agents are also seeing fewer bookings as leisure travellers opt for less-troubled spots in Thailand like Phuket. The slowdown has even affected Bangkok’s popularity as a destination for corporate travel, and meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (Mice) events, they said.

SIA, which flies five times a day to Bangkok, will cancel about one in 10 flights between Jan 14 and Feb 25.

Affected customers will be put on other flights or given refunds if they choose to cancel their plans, airline spokesman Nicholas Ionides told The Straits Times.


-- The Nation 2014-01-04

The only thing Thais understand is money. Eventually, it will sink in.

SIA first,whos next,Chiang Mais looking good.

here we go!...once the income stops flowing they will finally wake up

It only matters if it is THEIR money. Some of these folks are known for worrying about others.

A fast reaction to yesterday's statement by protesters, that they are not going to close any airports.

Travellers well know, that it might be no so.

Once the xmass/new year holidays finish and tourists are gone, the other airlines will soon realise, that flying empty doesn't make sense.

As to economic elits of thailand, they well know, that closing airports for a short time, will profit them in long terms, when they gain full political controll. Thats why they supported airports occupations in 2008 and why they are supporting current protests

Edited January 4, 201412 yr by londonthai

According to TAT, SIA are cancelling 10% of their flights to BKK, but the 90% still arriving are all carrying about 15% more passengers!!

So it is in reality yet another increase!!

I think we can assume that since there is such a strong anti-foreign sentiment that there aren't many of the protesters are in the tourism sector.

Just looking at flights from Singapore to Bangkok for Air Asia and Tiger and you can see the drop in prices for flights from January 12 onwards. Plenty of one way tickets under 100SD. On this route not many flights are this cheap when booked less than two weeks out, normally you would expect to pay SD120-150.

Edited January 4, 201412 yr by kkerry

According to TAT, SIA are cancelling 10% of their flights to BKK, but the 90% still arriving are all carrying about 15% more passengers!!

So it is in reality yet another increase!!

Amazing Thailand

According to TAT, SIA are cancelling 10% of their flights to BKK, but the 90% still arriving are all carrying about 15% more passengers!!

So it is in reality yet another increase!!

I think the reason why SIA cancel 10% is to avoid a half-full or empty flight.

Money talks. Lack of money screams...

All foreign airlines should follow suit as their own protest to the stupidity of the Thai protests. Take away the pacifiers until the babies stop crying.

here we go!...once the income stops flowing they will finally wake up

No they won't ... Thai people never learn from the past

According to TAT, SIA are cancelling 10% of their flights to BKK, but the 90% still arriving are all carrying about 15% more passengers!!

So it is in reality yet another increase!!

I think the reason why SIA cancel 10% is to avoid a half-full or empty flight.

Your observation is far too logical for those with a bias to accept.

What is also not mentioned is that Air Asia, Tiger, JetStar have been savaging SIA (and TG) for the past 2 years. SIA is losing money on many of the roots where there are multiple LCCs operating. SIA said as much when it announced its Scoot venture. The Bangkok issue is a convenient excuse to drop unprofitable routes with low yields. Air Asia has changed the market in the region and all of the legacy carriers are hurting.

According to TAT, SIA are cancelling 10% of their flights to BKK, but the 90% still arriving are all carrying about 15% more passengers!!

So it is in reality yet another increase!!

I think the reason why SIA cancel 10% is to avoid a half-full or empty flight.

No shit Sherlock!!

a friend did takea flight from Europe to Bangkok last week. The plane was completely full because it was shared between 3 different airlines, otherwise it would have nearly empty.

here we go!...once the income stops flowing they will finally wake up

No they won't ... Thai people never learn from the past

I agree. The fat cats organising the protests will never be affected financially and the sheep will follow.

Thai's only think one day ahead if that, so lack of future income does not compute in their heads.

The income could stop flowing for months and they will still not wake up.

Edited January 4, 201412 yr by noddy77

Can't wait for Thai Airways, BA, Luft, all the Russian charters and the Chinese to follow suit.

The only high quality tourist that will arrive will be cockroaches.

like the protesters will give a rat's ass about this. Suthep even less so. YL? She won't give a monkey's either. Pointless drivel as the only people losing here are SG airlines, passengers will go with other companies and as said in the article, alternative destinations such as Phuket which is fantastic for businesses in Phuket. At least it brightens the day up in comparison to reading about stabbings and gun fights and old geezers getting beaten up by teenage gangs

Can't wait for Thai Airways, BA, Luft, all the Russian charters and the Chinese to follow suit.

The only high quality tourist that will arrive will be cockroaches.

Yes but according to TAT the percentage of cockroaches will increase by 25% annually.

All foreign airlines should follow suit as their own protest to the stupidity of the Thai protests. Take away the pacifiers until the babies stop crying.

nothing to do with the protests..their planes are half empty now work out the maths brains...ashford and simpson.......(solid as a rock)

Can't wait for Thai Airways, BA, Luft, all the Russian charters and the Chinese to follow suit.

The only high quality tourist that will arrive will be cockroaches.

Yes but according to TAT the percentage of cockroaches will increase by 25% annually.

Actually, for once!, not so:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/693790-thai-tourism-ministry-expects-10-12-drop-in-foreign-tourists-in-2014/

But I think this is being used for political gains. In one way or another. Travelers I have spoken to who have been arriving lately have mentioned fairly empty planes and hotels. Also an article in the Post mentioning how even PTP's financiers are getting tired of losing money.

It's all about Thaksin....

Can't wait for Thai Airways, BA, Luft, all the Russian charters and the Chinese to follow suit.

The only high quality tourist that will arrive will be cockroaches.

thai airways have increased there prices... absolute stupid

All foreign airlines should follow suit as their own protest to the stupidity of the Thai protests. Take away the pacifiers until the babies stop crying.

nothing to do with the protests..their planes are half empty now work out the maths brains...ashford and simpson.......(solid as a rock)

Nothing to do with the protests? Why do you think the planes are empty? With the political circus going on the past few months, travelers have been pulling out by the plane loads. This is the high season for Thailand where usually you can't fly anywhere unless you've booked in advance.

I'm sitting here in the airport lounge in Chiang Mai flying back to Bangkok after just purchasing a ticket at the counter 90 minutes before the flight. It's unheard of under normal circumstances. Especially the weekend before going back to work after a major holiday.

They must of all heard about the proposed NEW 500 bht tax on arrival ...

Unfortunately the people of Thailand have manifested this situation on themselves , there is no one else to blame, most have been taken for suckers with a political party, that in a good democratic country would be hard pressed to get registered let alone hold power , blinded by promises , untruths , bribes and riddled with corruption, they took the bait, now Thailand will pay the price, unfortunately a lot of good people will get hurt , before this little shin dig is over..

Can't wait for Thai Airways, BA, Luft, all the Russian charters and the Chinese to follow suit.

The only high quality tourist that will arrive will be cockroaches.

thai airways have increased there prices... absolute stupid

That's the Thai way when business drops!!!

TAT: "No impact on tourism".

The only thing Thais understand is money. Eventually, it will sink in.

Yeah! And good spiritually oriented folks such as yourself do not care every bit is much about the dough? Many Thais have a better reason- poverty. Phew! Y'all need to flush that one quick