THAI president Apinan Sumanaseni confirmed yesterday that the airline would maintain services on all domestic routes despite having earlier announced it would continue flying only four major routes, between Bangkok and Chiang Mai, Hat Yai, Phuket and Krabi. THAI will discuss other kinds of cooperation with Nok Air, he said.

Under its revised five-year business plan, both THAI and Nok Air will operate the same routes together, because they are focusing on different markets, Apinan said.

Earlier, THAI withdrew from or decreased some of its domestic flights and gave up some routes to Nok Air, such as between Chiang Mai and Mae Hong Son. It was expected to release more routes to Nok Air for business reasons.

However, Wallop Bhukkanasut executive vice president for THAI's Commercial Department, said the company had increased domestic airfares, in order to earn higher revenues from local flights.

"THAI gave some domestic routes to Nok Air because of our poor performance, but now we're happy, with better returns, and there's no need to transfer any more routes to Nok Air," he said.

Nok Air was established as a low-cost carrier in 2004. Its major shareholders are THAI, with a 39-per-cent stake; and Krung Thai Bank, Dhipaya Insurance and the Government Pension Fund, with 10 per cent each. It has registered capital of Bt500 million.

THAI is planning to invest in more facilities and services, to show its sharper focus on the domestic market. It is considering a second in-town check-in facility at Sukhumvit subway station in Bangkok. The national carrier's first in-town check-in counter, at Lat Phrao subway station, cost Bt10 million and was established to cope with last month's reopening of Don Muang Airport.

THAI has also opened a Royal Silk Lounge at Krabi Airport to provide facilities for Royal Silk Class passengers, Royal Orchid Plus Gold Card members and Star Alliance Gold Card members. The airline operates 32 flights a week between Krabi and Bangkok.

The airline has also introduced a prepaid THAI Value Plus Card called the Aussie Easy Pass, aimed at THAI travellers heading for Australia. The card comes with two prices: Bt23,000 for economy-class travellers and Bt60,000 for business class. It allows travellers to fly to the four Australian cities of Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Brisbane.

Suchat Sritama

The Nation