Commerce Minister Krirkkrai Jirapaet said the original plan was to offer Bt10 fast-food menus to help people reduce their spending at a time when escalating oil prices were raising the cost of living.

"The project is really helping people, but we must consider its other effects," he said, adding that traffic was being blocked on the way to the BMA building. The ministry will consider ways to ease the problem.

Etihad wins again

Etihad Airways has triumphed at the prestigious World Travel Awards, winning not only the title of World's Leading New Airline for the third year, but also that of World's Leading Flat-Bed Seats.

The 13th annual awards ceremony took place on the Turks and Caicos Islands in the Caribbean, where Etihad, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, received extensive praise for its growth and new products.

After a recent upgrade of its in-flight entertainment, the airline's planes are now fitted with an audio and video "on demand" feature. Passengers are offered continuous entertainment covering several languages and cultures and the opportunity to create a personal "video favourites" list.

Thai hotel named to Hall of Fame

The Royal Cliff Beach Resort in Pattaya became the first Asian hotel to be elevated to the Travel Hall of Fame at the 17th Annual Travel Awards 2006, which were also held at the Royal Cliff Beach.

Since the inception of the awards 17 years ago, the hotel has won the award for Best Resort Hotel, Asia Pacific on eight consecutive occasions and was named Best Meetings and Conventions Hotel in 2002, 2004 and 2005.

The Royal Cliff Beach also this year won once again the coveted award for Excellence in a Convention Hotel (Eastern Region) from the Tourism Authority of Thailand.

Trains, flowers and planes

Thai Airways International (THAI) and the State Railway of Thailand are offering a Ratchaphruek Travelling Pass for Bangkok visitors to the international horticultural exposition for His Majesty the King, the Royal Flora Ratchaphruek 2006, in Chiang Mai.

THAI chairman Wanchai Sarathulthat said the package includes one air ticket and one rail ticket for travel between Bangkok and Chiang Mai, and passengers can decide which means of travel they will use for their northward and return journeys.

The Bt3,300 package is valid for the entire duration of the exposition, from November 1 to January 31.

Port revenues up, profit lower

The Port Authority of Thailand recorded total revenues of Bt7.9 billion and a net profit of Bt1.4 billion in the fiscal year ended September 30. Acting director Siri Jirapongphan said the volume for exports passing through Thai ports increased during the year, but the authority's operational costs rose. As a result, revenues were up on year, but the net profit was lower.

Missing Don Muang

Budget airline operators are holding talks with Airports of Thailand Plc (AOT) about a possible move back to the old Don Muang Airport.

Thai AirAsia CEO Tassapon Bijleveld said some low-cost airlines preferred Don Muang, because the cost of operations there was lower than at the new Suvarnabhumi Airport, and the preference remained despite government plans to build a low-cost terminal at the new airport.

However, One Two Go Airlines CEO Udom Tantiprasongchai, disagreed. He said AOT required all operators to use the new airport.

Somsak Srinual, acting president of the Thai Airways International (THAI) labour union, said only one airline - Thai AirAsia - could benefit from returning to Don Muang. THAI, on the other hand, is expected to lose its competitive edge because of the higher operational costs at the new airport.