THAI executive denies pilot resignation reports

[webfact]

THAI executive denies pilot resignation reports

BANGKOK: -- Thai Airways International Executive Vice President Athisak Padchuenjai on Monday denied the reports that some 200 pilots have tendered resignation.

At a press conference, he said no resignation has been received yet.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/THAI-executive-denies-pilot-resignation-reports-30241697.html


-- The Nation 2014-08-25

[webfact]

AVIATION
THAI denies pilot resignation reports
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Thai Airways International Executive Vice President Athisak Padchuenjai on Monday denied the reports that some 200 pilots have tendered resignation.

At a press conference, he said no resignation has been received yet.

He said that each year, some pilots resign but that is normal and does not damage the company’s operations. Each year, new pilots are also recruited.

Athisak noted that pilots are in high demand in the aviation industry. This may have spurred the reports.

Media reports yesterday said that these pilots resigned en masse on worries of the company’s finances. In the first half of this year, the airline showed over Bt10 billion in net loss. The outlook is not bright given fiercer competition in the industry, led mainly by low-cost airlines.

As of August, THAI employs 1,350 pilots.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/business/THAI-denies-pilot-resignation-reports-30241699.html


-- The Nation 2014-08-25

[Valentine]

If this is true then it does not bode well for the standard of pilots who will be flying Thai.

[siampolee]

THAI executive denies pilot resignation reports

BANGKOK: -- Thai Airways International Executive Vice President Athisak Padchuenjai on Monday denied the reports that some 200 pilots have tendered resignation.

At a press conference, he said no resignation has been received yet.

Now if this is the case one is led to wonder what the true motives may be behind this mass resignation.

Interesting to note the comment '' no resignation has been received yet.''

​Would this possibly be a hint that there is some truth in the matter although the quoted figures may be wrong ?

Media reports yesterday said that these pilots resigned en masse on worries of the company’s finances. In the first half of this year, the airline showed over Bt10 billion in net loss. The outlook is not bright given fiercer competition in the industry, led mainly by low-cost airlines.

Perhaps there may be worries concerning operating procedures, duty rostering, hours worked aircraft maintenance etc.

[ChrisY1]

Hard to understand why these "rumours" would not be actual......where did the rumour/information come from.......?

My guess is that this could well be another face saving denial....although 200 does seem a lot......wait and see.

Edited August 25, 2014 by ChrisY1

[Just1Voice]

I've got a friend who owns a company that is involved with the aviation industry, and he told me just yesterday that the assessment of his company in regards to Thai Airlines is not good, and that they fully expect more than usual "yearly resignations" of pilots due to Thai's financial future, which looks bleak.

[Misterwhisper]

Decades of financial mismanagement, unreasonably high perks for executives and their extended families, freebie tickets for a whole army of politicians and celebrities, ticket overpricing that drove paying customers away, failure to increase overall efficiency, and appointments of largely inept board members and top managers not for their professional expertise but solely for their connections and affiliations with certain power groups finally come home to roost.

Edited August 25, 2014 by Misterwhisper

[96tehtarp]

When the government of the day decides to stop paying the losses Thai will end. Rehabilitation is impossible.

They can spin off either Nok or ThaiSmile and shut Thai Airways International completely. Overnight the newly spun-off subsidiary can take over operation of Thai routes and assets and rehire staff as new hires. A new THAI airline with hopefully a lot of capable foreign managers... and please no more Air Chief Marshals, Pol. Lieutenant colonels etc. stacked up in the management.

It's probably easier to keep paying the losses.

[IamNoone88]

There is no smoke without fire. If I were a pilot at Thai, I would be looking at my options as well. Does not give me confidence to fly them either.

[webfact]

200 THAI pilots resign over five years
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Aug 25 -- The management of Thailand's flag carrier, Thai Airways International (THAI), admitted that some 200 pilots resigned from the national airline in the past five years for better salaries elsewhere.

Acting THAI president ACM Siwakiat Chayema said that the pilots moved to other airlines in the past five years and usually 30-40 pilots resigned from THAI annually.

He explained that the resignation resulted from the inauguration of new airlines in the country and pilots had the right to choose satisfactory remuneration.

The resignation of some 30-40 pilots this year is normal and will not affect the service and future plans of THAI because the airline is producing pilot replacements, according to ACM Siwakiat.

THAI will forhave a sub-committee to study its rehabilitation as instructed by the state enterprise 'superboard' and that its borrowing plan would become clear in late September. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2014-08-25

[webfact]

THAI dismisses resignation en masse of pilots



BANGKOK: -- Thai Airways International today denied resignation en masse of its 200 pilots and co-pilots on worries of the national flag carrier's financial position.

In a press conference Monday, THAI executive vice president for operations Athisak Padchuenjai denied the report saying no resignation of over 200 pilots and co-pilots has been received yet.

But he admitted the figure of 200 was the accumulated number of pilots and co-pilots who had resigned during the past five years.

He said that each year, average resignation of pilots and co-pilots was 30-40 persons, and this year 30 had resigned.

He said the resignation of pilots is normal and does not damage the company’s operations. Each year, new pilots are also recruited.

Athisak noted that pilots are in high demand in the aviation industry. This may have spurred the reports.

Media reports yesterday said that these pilots mostly flying Airbus A330 and A 340 resigned en masse on worries of the company’s financial status. They were reported to have applied at Thai Air Asia.

THAI flies Airbus A 330 and A 340 on Asian routes which is its major revenue earning routes.

Thai Air Asia also flies in these routes using Airbus planes, and has placed order for five more Airbus planes which will be delivered mid next year

In the first half of this year, the airline showed over 10 billion baht in net loss.

The outlook is not bright given fiercer competition in the industry, led mainly by low-cost airlines.

As of August, THAI employs 1,350 pilots.

(Photo : twitter @lakkhana_m)

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/thai-dismisses-resignation-en-masse-pilots/


-- Thai PBS 2014-08-25

[Prbkk]

Plenty of young , well trained Aussie, Canucks, Yanks, Poms, Kiwis, ...Cathay and Emirates make that work but Thai won't employ farang

[dddave]

The abysmal handling of the landing gear collapse by a Thai Airways flight at Survanabhumi last year showed just how deep the management crisis was at Thai. Far more attention was paid to painting over the Thai logo on the plane than was to the flights passengers who were left stranded in a bus for close to an hour. When they finally were taken to the terminal...nobody there from Thai with either water or food...nor any medical personnel to screen for injuries.

Edited August 25, 2014 by dddave

[HiSoLowSoNoSo]

The future for Thai? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Atomics_MQ-1_Predator

[DrLom]

"because the airline is producing pilot replacements, according to ACM Siwakiat."

Edited August 25, 2014 by metisdead
Unnecessary usage of bold font removed.

[chotthee]

"As of August, THAI employs 1,350 pilots."

No wonder they are loosing money.

[Beerhunter]

If they have 1350 pilots the airline should be praying for resignations.

[Showbags]

Fly Thai, look forward to the pilot greeting in burmese, cambo, nigerian and pakistan accents......all at more expensive ratesvthan most other airlines...awesome thai business modell

[chainarong]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

If this is true then it does not bode well for the standard of pilots who will be flying Thai.

I don't think Thai will endanger the aircraft therefore not endangering passengers, just because there is a shortage , it is only speculation and when you think about it just how many carriers are interested in 200 Thai pilots.

[Misterwhisper]

1,350 pilots for a fleet of currently 93 aircraft flying to just 78 international destinations (plus a handful of domestic ones)?

Seems the entire pilot roster is just as hopelessly over-staffed as top management.

[Dah fahrang]

Wonder how many years have these pilots been working for Thai Airways?

In minimising huge losses, the pilot's fear of their pension pot being raided springs to mind.

Better to resign now, lose a few years future contributions, but get previous years contributions out. And find work for another carrier.

[Just1Voice]

1,350 pilots for a fleet of currently 93 aircraft flying to just 78 international destinations (plus a handful of domestic ones)?

Seems the entire pilot roster is just as hopelessly over-staffed as top management.

1,350 pilots / 93 aircraft. That's just over 14 pilots per plane. Seems a bit "over the top" if you ask me.

[Bsd]

1,350 pilots for a fleet of currently 93 aircraft flying to just 78 international destinations (plus a handful of domestic ones)?

Seems the entire pilot roster is just as hopelessly over-staffed as top management.

1,350 pilots / 93 aircraft. That's just over 14 pilots per plane. Seems a bit "over the top" if you ask me.

I just went looking for some numbers and the best that I can find is that Air New Zealand (106 aircraft in operation) employs approximately 1,300 pilots so not so different to Thai's numbers. Remember that 14 pilots per plane is 7 flight crews since you need 2 pilots at a time, pilots don't work every day and when they do they work odd shifts, you need stand by crews at all airports in case of emergency. A NZ 777-300ER spends 15.5 hours a day in the air, when you add a couple of hours at each end to turn it around you can quickly see why you need so many crews.

[japio]

7 crews per aircraft is about the standard for an international airline.

[glasswort]

If they have 1350 pilots the airline should be praying for resignations.

So you are aware of how many pilots are actually required to man the current flight schedules.Engage brain before hitting keys!

[boike]

As a retired commercial pilot for a big airline I can tell you that you don't quit your job that easy unless things are bad where you are or things are WAY better where your going. Thai has no standardisation and flies with almost every aircraft available. And people often confuse (good) service with good aircraft maintenance or standard of cockpit crew

Sent from my Galaxy S4 4G LTE

[lvr181]

Plenty of young , well trained Aussie, Canucks, Yanks, Poms, Kiwis, ...Cathay and Emirates make that work but Thai won't employ farang

Difficult, if not impossible, to teach an ostrich to get its head out of the sand!

[neverdie]

1,350 pilots for a fleet of currently 93 aircraft flying to just 78 international destinations (plus a handful of domestic ones)?

Seems the entire pilot roster is just as hopelessly over-staffed as top management.

1,350 pilots / 93 aircraft. That's just over 14 pilots per plane. Seems a bit "over the top" if you ask me.

There's a bit more to it than simple number division. You have Senior Captians and Check Captains for all aircraft types, these guys are involved in monitoring other pilots, then you've got pilots involved in training, then 2nd officers who are still functioning as a third man, then you've got a certain amount of staff on holidays, sick report, compassionate leave or involved in other duties and then each pilot is on duty for less 100 hours a month and the planes are always in the air. It's not hard to keep 1300 pilots busy on these schedules and of course the more aircraft types flown exhasurbated the situation. Further to this, you've got staff scattered around the world sleeping in hotels on the longer 'layovers' whilst their aircraft is being flown further by another crew & they await rest time to elapse before picking up the next bus thru. Then there's time lost when FO's upgrade to the left hand seat & other aircrafts flying sectors with two sets of crews due to hours flown and so forth.

And just when you think it couldn't get anymore chaotic an aircraft goes offline in some obscure location and shedulings juggling extra crews and aircrafts just to plug the holes.

You want to see a real Circus, take urself over to HQ for EK and see what's happening in their rosters/scheduling departments. It's a real hoot

Edited August 25, 2014 by neverdie

[biplanebluey]

If they have 1350 pilots the airline should be praying for resignations.

So you are aware of how many pilots are actually required to man the current flight schedules.Engage brain before hitting keys!

Well you people know all the facts and figures------- 93 aircraft @ 7 pilots needed =651.We have1350 pilots which makes 699 too many.

Have I missed something here or is this another Thai bit of corruption or a scam that I havn't worked out yet ??????

[neverdie]

If they have 1350 pilots the airline should be praying for resignations.

So you are aware of how many pilots are actually required to man the current flight schedules.Engage brain before hitting keys!

Well you people know all the facts and figures------- 93 aircraft @ 7 pilots needed =651.We have1350 pilots which makes 699 too many.

Have I missed something here or is this another Thai bit of corruption or a scam that I havn't worked out yet ??????

7 crews brother, they are all 2 up these days, 1 First Officer & 1 Captain.