THAI aims to be the 'safest airline'

[Lite Beer]

THAI aims to be the 'safest airline'
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Thai Airways International Plc ( THAI) President Charamporn Jotikasthira yesterday said the airline aims to be the safest carrier in the Asia-Pacific region within this year. The airline is now running internal audit procedure in the wake of safety issues raised by the International Civil Aviation Organisation.

The airline also planned to ask a third party - the same group that certified airline members of Star Alliance - to take part in safety audit at THAI.

"If we pass this audit procedure, the airline should not worry about security checks by any aviation authority," he said.

THAI is set to suspend dividend payments owing to huge losses last year, but insisted that its financial status and performance would improve this year.

Charamporn said yesterday's shareholder meeting approved the company's proposal not to pay dividend to shareholders this year, as the company made a net loss of Bt15 billion in 2014.

The airline said the decision was in accordance with its policy to distribute dividends of no less than 25 per cent of consolidated net profit gain or loss on foreign exchange as well as subject to future investments.

Charamporn said the airline's financial status and performance would improve this year as the average load factor had already improved to 76 per cent in the second quarter. Average load factor in March climbed to 76 per cent, compared to 67 per cent in the same month last year.

"The company expects to see profits from the first quarter of 2017," he said.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/business/THAI-aims-to-be-the-safest-airline-30258756.html

-- The Nation 2015-04-25

[Strangebrew]

So does this signal there grounding there fleet then? Because as in the past they won't comply like before.

[ExPratt]

Lets see if they pass their own internal audit first before they become the safest in the world

[arthurboy]

Lets see if they pass their own internal audit first before they become the safest in the world

Yes, in view of the newly established BoD, it's connections elsewhere and - cough - concerns over inappropriate budget spending on consultants etc., this has a much, much longer way to go.

Thai needs to get its own house in order long before any trumpeting of any future successes.

[Rod Wallop]

Thais certainly can talk the talk

[zaphod reborn]

THAI uses very old airliners. They would have to retire most of their fleet before they could even move off the bottom 20% of the safe list. Then they would need to address their maintenance and training deficits. Only a complete reboot would make a significant improvement to their safety rating. On top of that, they need to replace their management if they are going to turnaround the airline's financial health.

[Neurath]

Easy to achieve - don't fly.

[samsensam]

Thais certainly can talk the talk

indeed. it's walking the walk they have trouble with.

they hate to lose face but so often set themselves up to do exactly that.

[Emster23]

no passengers = no passenger deaths. Simple formula

[bangon04]

Lets see if they pass their own internal audit first before they become the safest in the world

Well of course they will pass their own internal audit.... how could there be any doubt about that? The problem is caused by foreigners doubting their word because they don't understand the Thai way of doing things. The international standards are what are causing the problem..

[LuckyLew]

Having goals is a good thing

Knowing how to reach them though seems to be out of their reach

[asdecas]

It's an aim, and as such should be applauded.

Achievement of that aim is quite another matter, as anyone with a passing familiarity with Thai Airways, knows.

[ExPratt]

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Lets see if they pass their own internal audit first before they become the safest in the world

Well of course they will pass their own internal audit.... how could there be any doubt about that? The problem is caused by foreigners doubting their word because they don't understand the Thai way of doing things. The international standards are what are causing the problem..

Hahahaha , yeah that's the one isn't it , they pass every internal Audit with flying colours

[NongKhaiKid]

Thais certainly can talk the talk

I feel for Thai govt officials, politicians, executives etc having to soldier on against a whole world that doesn't understand anything and is completely out of step with LoS

[wabothai]

good luck, boys.

[siam2007]

well, Thailand aims to be the best in a lot of things like: Best democracy of Asia, most reputable Taxi drivers of Asia, safest roads of Asia, best English speakers of Asia....... sure they can get the "safest Airline of Asia" status too...... no doubt they deserve it. Don't forget, Thai people live in a reality of their own

[JAG]

If they are grounded, that will be about as safe as you could get.

[madmitch]

Well, in the past 12 months they have been safer than Air Asia and Malaysian so that's a good base.

[Praematura]

It's good they will be #1 this year as I think I read BKK is going to be THE transport hub.[emoji38]

[scorecard]

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Thais certainly can talk the talk

indeed. it's walking the walk they have trouble with.

they hate to lose face but so often set themselves up to do exactly that.

There is a love of window dressing and presentation.

In fact I moderated an open session some years ago with Thai MBA students from the two most 'prestigious' Thai universities (English languages programs) plus a small group of exchange students from Europe.

The subject / hypothesis: "Is presentation the same as service".

The topic / the discussion was suggested by a small group of MBA students. A summary:

- Most of the students who had never been outside of Thailand agreed with the hypothesis. ('presentation is the same as service'.)

- All who had studies / lived abroad totally disagreed and said strongly 'Thais tend to get these two subjects muddled up'.

- All the European students said they are different subjects.

Here's an associated item from the past re Thai, maybe 15 - 20 years ago. A Thai senior executive was being interviewed in regard to large numbers of customer complaints.

His response: 'Yes we are having a lot of customer complaints but we have a plan to fix it, we will get new uniforms'.

[slapout]

To improve thailands record of injury/death using any mode/method of moving her citizens from one point to another, including, airline, boats, auto, trucks, motorcycle, train, bus and even pedestrains will only happen when the entire population is confined to their home for a given length of time. (24 hours)

Even then they would find ways to reinforce Darwins observations/theories.

[Johnny S]

Thais certainly can talk the talk

indeed. it's walking the walk they have trouble with.

they hate to lose face but so often set themselves up to do exactly that.

Exactly - Thais hate loosing face but despite that they talk lots of bs so they evidently 100% will loose face. Thai Airways will never be the safest in the World, they will not even be safe and pass the inspection-tests nor will they survive ...

[trogers]

How? By investing heavily on names and logos that can be peeled off at a moment's notice?

[ezzra]

And once you got to be the ' safest one ' do endeavour to be the most reasonably priced one as well...

[bangon04]

To be fair, THAI airways is not by a long way a very dangerous airline.

However Thailand is learning a lesson that it is part of a global community (unless it wishes to shut out the rest of the world like North Korea...) and these days Thailand has to understand that social media, news media, international 24 hour news, international relations and interdependency are all part of this global community.

It becomes harder and harder to "save face" in the old way, and a few wake up calls, like human trafficking, slave labour, airline safety, etc are good for Thailand, although they don't appreciate it yet.

[Sealbash]

Does anyone have actual statistics of injuries / death on Thai airlines compared with other airlines?

[Alwyn]

5555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555!!!!! <deep breath> 5555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555!!!!

[DMC1]

Pulled this off the net for this years ratings. Qantas never had a fatality in 63 years apparently:

Qantas.

Air New Zealand.

British Airways.

Cathay Pacific.

Emirates.

Etihad Airways.

Eva Air.

Lufthansa.

Singapore Airlines.

Edited April 25, 2015 by DMC1

[casindonet]

It's good to have an ambition rather than blatantly claiming to be a hub. They also need to be more realistic with their time frame

[DrTuner]

Aiming ain't shooting.