Thai govt wants to raise fares of 'low-cost' airlines

[siam2007]

So, AirAsia can run an airline cheaper than the Thais can run a bus route?

Maybe Thai Airways could lower prices and run domestic routes and run these bandits off?

AirAsia ? are you kidding ? AirAsia is Thailands most expensive domestic Airline by a margin..... I am flying 30-40 times a year domestically but, unlike in earlier years where I could easily have 30-40 domestic and international flights on AirAsia alone, I have not been flying them domestically for 4 years or so.

Not that I would not trust them (always felt safe), but they are virtually ALWAYS the most expensive.

More expensive than NOK, the excellent Bangkok Airways (except Samui of course which Budget carriers don't serve anyway), Thai Air's domestic subsidiary THAI SMILE, let alone the super-cheap LION AIR with brand-new aircraft....

[Thomas33399]

A total joke. How to destroy your credibility in any reasonable country.

[wvavin]

This is utterly ridiculous for asking budget airlines to increase fares due to their incapability of fare management of the inter-provincial bus service. Only happened in Thailand!

[starky]

unbelievable and the junta lovers will come up with some way to spin this outrageous comment into something good like the countless other outrageous statements that are made every day.

[thailandusauk]

The most retarded government in the world with French government...

[Araiwa]

just unbelievable. Maybe this crooked army guy has his shares in bus companies. Unbelievable.

[tullynagardy]

My personal favorite was a few years ago (not sure who was in power but probably someone in the Shin family) when whoever was in charge of traffic in Bangkok had a brainstorm regarding traffic congestion in the city.

His idea ................................................... keep the green lights on longer ! Absolutely brilliant ! Who would have thought of this, and it was right in your face !

About time someone blamed Thaksin for the latest junta screw up. I knew that little rogue would be involved somewhere.

[jmacken306]

And they are worried about the decline in visitors???????? That will settle well with visitors!

[honoluludave]

Though that was the purpose of low cost airlines was to fill planes and get everybody flying. But that is not a business model Thai's are not used to. Instead of cutting prices to get customers, they want to raise prices to make up the difference. Someone finally shows them how they should be doing business and they go crying to the goverment. No Fair. Go take a economics course

[mca]

Come on. Have some sympathy for the bus companies. Those massive sound systems, trillion spot lights, knock off Michelin men and Hanuman and Finding Nemo paint jobs ain't free you know. And that's before the cost of the rigorous driver training and maintenance and safety programmes are even taken into consideration. Next you'll be saying that the bus companies only care about profits and don't give a flying one about their passengers.

Edited January 9, 2015 by mca

[Don Aleman]

No government, calling itself democratic, should interfere with private business pricing, particularly pricing to low -- dumb move to even suggest higher pricing !

[JOC]

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

Here is an idea for the government

How about yearly inspections of the equipment of these inter-provincial bus companies

How about governors to slow down these inter-provincial bus companies

How about log books that show exactly how long a driving shift is on these inter-provincial bus companies

How about publishing the safety records of these inter-provincial bus companies

How about restoring democracy in Thailand so that these hair brained ideas from the military masters stop

yes, to all except the final point, I have been out this way for 13 years and I see zero difference between this bunch of idiots and any of the others that have been in power. Remember propellorhead and his outstanding idea to reduce flooding by tying boats across the Chao Phira and using their propellors to move the water faster? Moronic ideas seem to be universal among Thai leaders no matter if they are elected or not, so restoring democracy is not going to make a blind bit of difference.

My personal favorite was a few years ago (not sure who was in power but probably someone in the Shin family) when whoever was in charge of traffic in Bangkok had a brainstorm regarding traffic congestion in the city.

His idea ................................................... keep the green lights on longer ! Absolutely brilliant ! Who would have thought of this, and it was right in your face !

You just can't help yourself, can you??

Sure you would manage to sneak the Shin-name in to a thread about carrot-farming................

[Diplomatico]

In other news, "Thai blacksmiths appeal for government relief from unfair 'machinery' competition"

[JOC]

Costas, my Greek friend!!

Please explain to us mortals the greatness of this new junta idea.....................

[ratcatcher]

"is this in fact not a cheese shop?"

"Nudge, nudge. Wink wink. Say no more! Say no more!"

"Thailand’s military government is asking domestic “low-cost” airlines to raise their ticket prices to prevent stealing market share from inter-provincial bus companies."

"you killed everyone in the castle!"

"sorry..."

"shes got huge tracks of land!"

Listen Jack Bauer, this poor lady's got a bus company to run and it's just not 'fare'

http://moneyminting.blogspot.com/2011/07/female-bus-tycoon-rags-to-riches-story.html

Edited January 9, 2015 by ratcatcher

[Globeman]

From a story just under two years ago... this woman wants her bread buttered on both sides, apparently. As head of the Bus Operator's association, a position she doubtless bought and paid for fair and square, Suchinda said they were going to raise the fares even if the govt didn't approve their request. So basically the govt can screw itself and drop dead if they don't do everything this imperious woman wants.

(Re-worded for copyright reasons)

....She said bus operators can't afford expensive fuel anymore, especially during Songkran, when so many people are traveling. [The logic is somewhat elusive here... won't all her buses be packed?]

"Even though it is illegal to raise fares without the Central Land Transport Committee's approval, we prefer to pay the fines since it is cheaper while we also have to compete with the illegal mini-vans on our routes," Mrs Sujinda said while awaiting Transport Minister Jarupong Ruangsuwan.

... In a manner that appeared to be only half joking, she told Pol Lt Gen Chatt that she will have Jarupong removed from the cabinet if her request was refused.

There you have it folks... a nasty piece of work who will never know nor care just what a piece of pond scum she truly is.

[gerry123]

so in essence that makes all the airlines high cost therefore this will only lead to difference of choice being in the quality of service/convenience dept so the likes of national carriers still loose out bit of a no brainer really

[KhnomKhnom]

Ok, we know this is another loony Thai ness idea. Note to motorized bus owners.... the horse-drawn large carriages want you to lower your fares to keep them in biz.

[Zolt]

I don't believe this. Government intervention in a free market? I don't blame travellers who want to travel by air as opposed to the dangerous accident prone busses on Thai roads.

Governments intervene in "free" markets all the time, even in the US. Get used to it, very often it's for a good reason too.

However the idea of rising the minimum fare price is of course stupid and misguided and only aims to prop up the national carrier that's losing customers to low costs.

[MoonShadow]

AirAsia Phuket to Bkk is cheaper than the taxi from Rawai to the bloody airport !

Last month the Air Asia fare Suratthani-Chiang Mai was THB 500....the bus company wanted THB 450 to get you from Samui to Suratthani Airport.....go figure!!

[Time Traveller]

Thai stupidity has hit a new high. Imagine a policy to make light bulbs more expensive because they are taking business away from the candle factories. That sums up the stupidity of these buffalos running the country.

Maybe they can also tax email and text messages also, since it's affecting the business at the post office.

[ratcatcher]

just unbelievable. Maybe this crooked army guy has his shares in bus companies. Unbelievable.

I doubt that very much considering Suchinda Cherdchai is supportive of the opposition.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/home/Grenade-fired-at-mayors-house-74012.html

(Assani Cherdchai, former Thai Rak Thai Party candidate and Suchinda's eldest son.....)

[fstarbkk]

Would you rather sit for 12 hours in one of Ms. Suchinda's ancient dilapidated heaps, which would never have passed a Eurpoean roadworthiness inspection, even in its prime, OR... on a recent vintage aircraft that is continually serviced and inspected?

How about trusting your life to a guy who may, or may not, have passed a Thai public transport driving test (ever!) and who may have lost most of his eyesight and sanity over the last 20 years due to rampant abuse of amphetamines and alcoohol. OR... would you rather trust 2 internationally qualified pilots who may, at any time, lose their job because they had a beer less than 12 hours before the trip or exhibit a mild heart murmur during their semi-annual medical?

Regardless of price, can you guess which I would choose?

[Carnlough]

I don't believe this. Government intervention in a free market? I don't blame travellers who want to travel by air as opposed to the dangerous accident prone busses on Thai roads.

Totally agree with you... they should open more Domestic Small Airports to reduce Road Deaths, especially at peak Holiday time.. when all the Bangkok workers are driving like Madmen/Women to get back to their place of employment after visiting there Family's...(No Brainer)

HAPPY AND SAFE 2015.

Slainte

[stopthegreed]

I don't believe this. Government intervention in a free market? I don't blame travellers who want to travel by air as opposed to the dangerous accident prone busses on Thai roads.

I agree entirely. It has nothing to do with the cost. besides it being a lot quicker, the roads are dangerous !!

[mca]

My personal favorite was a few years ago (not sure who was in power but probably someone in the Shin family) when whoever was in charge of traffic in Bangkok had a brainstorm regarding traffic congestion in the city.

His idea ................................................... keep the green lights on longer ! Absolutely brilliant ! Who would have thought of this, and it was right in your face !

About time someone blamed Thaksin for the latest junta screw up. I knew that little rogue would be involved somewhere.

Now come on mate. He's not blaming Thaksin. He's blaming someone who he's not sure about but probably was connected to Thaksin. There is a difference

Anyhow i digress. My car had a flat tyre this morning. I just know that bugger Thaksin is involved somehow. I bet he was hiding round the corner giggling as I struggled with the jack and tyre iron... If not him then probably a taxi driver who voted for PTP in the last election. Or maybe someone who once saw Thaksin on TV. Or maybe...

Edited January 9, 2015 by mca

[easybullet3]

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

I don't believe this. Government intervention in a free market? I don't blame travellers who want to travel by air as opposed to the dangerous accident prone busses on Thai roads.

So, AirAsia can run an airline cheaper than the Thais can run a bus route?

Maybe Thai Airways could lower prices and run domestic routes and run these bandits off?

Suchinda Cherdchai should make her buses safer, less environment damaging, buy new high quality bises, hire skilled drivers, ensure the timetable is held and lower the prices. If she can not, then she should find something ells to do. In the civilised world they calls it "the free market". alt=biggrin.png>

how about the Thai Goverment bothers to spend a bit of money and fix the EXHAUST PIPES of their Busses... then they wouldnt pollute Thailand so much!

i would never give money to a company that is so tight-fisted that they dont spend a penny on safety or pollution.

i did notice that the Thai government never spends money when it is for a good cause. it sall just PROFIT with them.

they dont fix their own bus pollution,,, they dont build any skateboard parks, open spaces... places for its PEOPLE.

selfish money grabbers. (thats all).

[Equalizer]

No more to add, i think you have covered it all hahahaaahaha

[bobmac10]

Once again, here we have a soldier now in charge of a country, he just took control with his guns and men.

A soldier, spent all his life planning how to fight the Burmese or Cambodians or maybe the Laos, sending in the tanks, moving men into battles with foreign armies.

And now he's running a whole country!!!!

He's in charge of everything, he can say anything he damn well wants, and he can stop people from criticising him.

He can get on the TV every night if he wants. Total power over 65 million people Wow!

Oops, here comes bright idea number er..... whatever....

This will all end in tears I'm afraid.

[mca]

Would you rather sit for 12 hours in one of Ms. Suchinda's ancient dilapidated heaps, which would never have passed a Eurpoean roadworthiness inspection, even in its prime, OR... on a recent vintage aircraft that is continually serviced and inspected?

How about trusting your life to a guy who may, or may not, have passed a Thai public transport driving test (ever!) and who may have lost most of his eyesight and sanity over the last 20 years due to rampant abuse of amphetamines and alcoohol. OR... would you rather trust 2 internationally qualified pilots who may, at any time, lose their job because they had a beer less than 12 hours before the trip or exhibit a mild heart murmur during their semi-annual medical?

Regardless of price, can you guess which I would choose?

Er...the bus?

Edited January 9, 2015 by mca