Transport Co launches major revamp plan to vie with low-cost airlines

BANGKOK, 13 May 2016 (NNT) - Transport Company is launching a major business revamp plan after losing 30 per cent of its passengers to budget airlines.

Transport Company chairman Anusorn Saengnimnual admitted the significant drop in the number of the bus passengers resulted from a fierce competition with budget airlines.

He said bus passengers have shifted to low-cost airlines for long distance routes because of a relatively short period of traveling. That prompted a need for Transport Company to revamp its business for the sake of its survival, he said.

The revamp plan might call for the downsizing of its bus fleet to lower operation costs with improved efficiency and to cut unnecessary expenditures, he said.


-- NNT 2016-05-13

Why can't they move out of the dark ages, it is often cheaper to fly !

" He said bus passengers have shifted to low-cost airlines for long distance routes because of a relatively short period of traveling."

You think? so only now it has dawned on them that for few hundred baht more, people can fly one hour

in comfort instead sitting in a Russian roulette called a bus that takes 8-10 hours ?.....

The revamp plan could include removing the bus seats to allow extra passenger standing room, taking out aircon and windows to save fuel, turning the music volume up to full blast to drown out the passengers complaints, and telling the drivers to go faster to compete with the airlines....

"and to cut unnessecary expenditures"......like changing bus drivers over on long distance hauls.......using re-capped tyres.....reducing service intervals.....

I don't trust any of these rotten bus companies bar a very few.....

I see this change going ass-backwards as much as it can - also prices go up, because of better service na?

Safety might be a consideration too.....look at all the serious accidents involving interprovincial buses....particularly on the overnight routes.

Safety might be a consideration too.....look at all the serious accidents involving interprovincial buses....particularly on the overnight routes.

We shall see

" He said bus passengers have shifted to low-cost airlines for long distance routes because of a relatively short period of traveling."

You think? so only now it has dawned on them that for few hundred baht more, people can fly one hour

in comfort instead sitting in a Russian roulette called a bus that takes 8-10 hours ?.....

I get advance notice of Air Asia sale fares and book Khon Kaen to Bangkok for 390 all-in each way. The VIP bus costs double and can take nine hours. Plus it's safer, of course. No contest.

Faster buses mean more trips ,I think they will go for this

"lower operation costs with improved efficiency and to cut unnecessary expenditures," - sounds like very good reason to avoid this company in the future..........one can only assume less safety and even crappier buses or underpaid/overworked drivers.

I would have thought it would be obvious to anyone that the reason for changing to planes is not just the time factor - it is the perception (probably correct) that planes (even budget) are WAY safer than Thai buses ......

How about spending more on health and safety, better vehicles built to international safety standards and properly trained drivers and mechanics?

Safety might be a consideration too.....look at all the serious accidents involving interprovincial buses....particularly on the overnight routes.

I would say that safety is probably the main reason for people travelling by air. The buses have basically shat in their own nest.

Edited May 13, 201610 yr by cumgranosalum

Faster buses mean more trips ,I think they will go for this

Sorry but that is total nonsense - how FAST do you think the buses would have to go to even add ONE more daily trip?

i'd say the announcement is not just unfortunate, it is downright worrying, that those in charge of public transport could think this way - and publicise it!

" He said bus passengers have shifted to low-cost airlines for long distance routes because of a relatively short period of traveling."

You think? so only now it has dawned on them that for few hundred baht more, people can fly one hour

in comfort instead sitting in a Russian roulette called a bus that takes 8-10 hours ?.....

You're not taking into account the time and cost of getting to airports, which are usually not in city centers, no the waiting time at the airport, nor the time and expense of reaching ones final destination after arriving at the airport. The final destination can easily be several hours drive from a provincial airport.

" He said bus passengers have shifted to low-cost airlines for long distance routes because of a relatively short period of traveling."

You think? so only now it has dawned on them that for few hundred baht more, people can fly one hour

in comfort instead sitting in a Russian roulette called a bus that takes 8-10 hours ?.....

You're not taking into account the time and cost of getting to airports, which are usually not in city centers, no the waiting time at the airport, nor the time and expense of reaching ones final destination after arriving at the airport. The final destination can easily be several hours drive from a provincial airport.

I think most people do this and on trips of 500 km or more the plane will usually win by a large margin.

Quite apart from the safety aspects there is also the discomfort of a bus to take into consideration and the lack of toilet/catering facilities.

Of course. Downsize the fleet and cut costs. What a brilliant plan.

May I suggest you simply sell the entire operation to venture capitalists?

I don't think it is for the sake of survival of the bus companies, more the sake of survival of the bus passengers who put up with the lack of maintenance, care, driver care and training, and also the speeding.

" He said bus passengers have shifted to low-cost airlines for long distance routes because of a relatively short period of traveling."

You think? so only now it has dawned on them that for few hundred baht more, people can fly one hour

in comfort instead sitting in a Russian roulette called a bus that takes 8-10 hours ?.....

But it is not simply a one hour flight is it?

Does that one hour also include the time and cost in getting to and from the airport, the 2 hour check in period?

That also assumes that there is a flight or flights at the time you want or are able to fly.

If you want to fly across country you may have to go via BKK anyway which will cost more in time and money.

Edited May 13, 201610 yr by billd766

" He said bus passengers have shifted to low-cost airlines for long distance routes because of a relatively short period of traveling."

You think? so only now it has dawned on them that for few hundred baht more, people can fly one hour

in comfort instead sitting in a Russian roulette called a bus that takes 8-10 hours ?.....

But it is not simply a one hour flight is it?

Does that one hour also include the time and cost in getting to and from the airport, the 2 hour check in period?

That also assumes that there is a flight or flights at the time you want or are able to fly.

If you want to fly across country you may have to go via BKK anyway which will cost more in time and money.

If we are to believe the bus company chap...yes - people are prepared to accept the 2 hour check in etc in favour of the buses - obviously air destinations are still limited but they are still remarkably convenient in Thailand as a whole...and apparently the price is sufficient to take cusotmers away from buses....I don't find this surprising at all.

" He said bus passengers have shifted to low-cost airlines for long distance routes because of a relatively short period of traveling."

You think? so only now it has dawned on them that for few hundred baht more, people can fly one hour

in comfort instead sitting in a Russian roulette called a bus that takes 8-10 hours ?.....

But it is not simply a one hour flight is it?

Does that one hour also include the time and cost in getting to and from the airport, the 2 hour check in period?

That also assumes that there is a flight or flights at the time you want or are able to fly.

If you want to fly across country you may have to go via BKK anyway which will cost more in time and money.

If we are to believe the bus company chap...yes - people are prepared to accept the 2 hour check in etc in favour of the buses - obviously air destinations are still limited but they are still remarkably convenient in Thailand as a whole...and apparently the price is sufficient to take cusotmers away from buses....I don't find this surprising at all.

This being Thailand, if they can at all afford it, many Thais would wait 4 hours to check into a domestic flight just to say they "flew" rather than schlepped it on the bus. Flying is so hi-so and still a novelty to many Thais.

" He said bus passengers have shifted to low-cost airlines for long distance routes because of a relatively short period of traveling."

You think? so only now it has dawned on them that for few hundred baht more, people can fly one hour

in comfort instead sitting in a Russian roulette called a bus that takes 8-10 hours ?.....

But it is not simply a one hour flight is it?

Does that one hour also include the time and cost in getting to and from the airport, the 2 hour check in period?

That also assumes that there is a flight or flights at the time you want or are able to fly.

If you want to fly across country you may have to go via BKK anyway which will cost more in time and money.

I would lke to know where you live that the busses pick you up from the door on your schedule....

" He said bus passengers have shifted to low-cost airlines for long distance routes because of a relatively short period of traveling."

You think? so only now it has dawned on them that for few hundred baht more, people can fly one hour

in comfort instead sitting in a Russian roulette called a bus that takes 8-10 hours ?.....

But it is not simply a one hour flight is it?

Does that one hour also include the time and cost in getting to and from the airport, the 2 hour check in period?

That also assumes that there is a flight or flights at the time you want or are able to fly.

If you want to fly across country you may have to go via BKK anyway which will cost more in time and money.

I would lke to know where you live that the busses pick you up from the door on your schedule....

There are 9 buses a day each way from the big village 6 km away to Bangkok and no airport closer that 125 km away.

In my case if I want to go to for example Udon Thani from Khampaeng Phet I could take the bus from KPP direct 3 or 4 times a day. If I want to fly I would need the nearest airport which is Nakhon Sawan 125 km away or PhitsaNulok 180km away then fly to Bangkok and get another flight up to Udon Thani.

If you fly anywhere you still have to get to the airport somehow and then from the destination airport to where you want to go.

" He said bus passengers have shifted to low-cost airlines for long distance routes because of a relatively short period of traveling."

You think? so only now it has dawned on them that for few hundred baht more, people can fly one hour

in comfort instead sitting in a Russian roulette called a bus that takes 8-10 hours ?.....

But it is not simply a one hour flight is it?

Does that one hour also include the time and cost in getting to and from the airport, the 2 hour check in period?

That also assumes that there is a flight or flights at the time you want or are able to fly.

If you want to fly across country you may have to go via BKK anyway which will cost more in time and money.

I would lke to know where you live that the busses pick you up from the door on your schedule....

There are 9 buses a day each way from the big village 6 km away to Bangkok and no airport closer that 125 km away.

In my case if I want to go to for example Udon Thani from Khampaeng Phet I could take the bus from KPP direct 3 or 4 times a day. If I want to fly I would need the nearest airport which is Nakhon Sawan 125 km away or PhitsaNulok 180km away then fly to Bangkok and get another flight up to Udon Thani.

If you fly anywhere you still have to get to the airport somehow and then from the destination airport to where you want to go.

you seem to be substituting your own individual experience for an overview of the market.

the company is interested in the prime long-distance routes - these are in direct competition with other modes of transport - e.g. air/train/private car. these are increasingly becoming alternatives to buses, especially as the standard of living increases and the relative costs of transport come down.

to suggest that this is incorrect because you can get a local bus from KPP is just irrelevant.