THAI plans long-haul changes

Among the long-haul routes being evaluated are between Bangkok and South Africa and Bangkok and New Zealand.

The company is likely to stop the Bangkok-Johannesburg service and revise its Bangkok-Auckland route. However, the decision would be finalised after the next board meeting on January 14, 2009.

The airline had already cut back the Bangkok-New York direct flight in June this year and also reduced frequencies between Bangkok and Auckland from daily flight to four a week recently.

The airline had also revised the Bangkok-Los Angeles routes by cutting the non-stop direct flight, but retaining the Bangkok-Tokyo-Los Angele route.

The financial crisis in the US and the global economic downturn are major factors for the adjustment.

However, all routes between Bangkok and Europe remain unchanged.

"The company has revised its business and marketing plan for next year due to the worldwide economic slowdown and the closure of two airports recently," Pandit Chanaphai, executive vice president for commercial department, said.

He said the company would be widening its network and increase frequencies in the region, particularly to China, India and the Middle East.

Pandit said the airline also planned to operate more six-hour combined destinations in Asia such as Bangkok-Manila-Seoul, Bangkok-China (Shanghai)-Japan, and Bangkok-Taipei-Japan. The airline has been operating Bangkok-Manila-Japan for years.

Pandit said the company expected average loading factor at 70 per cent this year, 3 per cent below target. The airline has projected a loading factor of 74 per cent in 2009.Meanwhile, it is expected that business growth would be surplus despite airport crisis in last December. However, revenue is expected to drop due to many negative factors.