National airline will not be allowed to declare bankruptcy
Feb 2, 2015, 10:27 pm
#46
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Melbourne
Programs: Velocity Gold
Posts: 1,069
There is one small (but I think significant) part of the airline they need to fix and that is their website. They are still in the hangover days of most people making their bookings through travel agents. That is fine to a point as in somewhere like Thailand it is still common, but not so in many other countries. Not having the cheapest available fare show in your main search engine on your website is crazy, the amount of people who don't know there are cheaper fares available by clicking through other links has been numerous. It also has the knock on affect of Thai's fares not appearing through some of the aggregators.
It is pie in the sky thinking, but I reckon this would have an instant impact on their economy loads, specifically from the Australian market. People would prefer to fly Thai than Jetstar but when searching Thai often appears more expensive when they have 'sale' fares that are cheaper. Case in point at the moment where for all of September BNE-CNX-BNE on the main page is $1100 or so and if you click to the sale fares it is only $920. That $200 can make all the difference between someone choosing Thai or Jetstar and I reckon most people wouldn't even get to the point of knowing the cheaper fare exists.
Small rant but I just find it so frustrating and something that could have an instant impact on sales.
It is pie in the sky thinking, but I reckon this would have an instant impact on their economy loads, specifically from the Australian market. People would prefer to fly Thai than Jetstar but when searching Thai often appears more expensive when they have 'sale' fares that are cheaper. Case in point at the moment where for all of September BNE-CNX-BNE on the main page is $1100 or so and if you click to the sale fares it is only $920. That $200 can make all the difference between someone choosing Thai or Jetstar and I reckon most people wouldn't even get to the point of knowing the cheaper fare exists.
Small rant but I just find it so frustrating and something that could have an instant impact on sales.
Feb 4, 2015, 12:13 am
#47
Join Date: Jun 2008
Programs: TK*G (E+), IHG Plat Ambassador
Posts: 7,884
Feb 4, 2015, 5:58 am
#48
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: body: A stone's throw from SFO, mind: SE Asia
Programs: Some of this 'n some of that
Posts: 17,263
And you're correct, it's much better than TGs.
Although PG is still showing my point accumulation for 2014.... can't ask for everything I guess.
Feb 4, 2015, 8:16 am
#50
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: VZ
Programs: M&M, ROP, KrisFlyer
Posts: 1,028
no story...
they will put it on a watch list together with many other routes and give it at least one more year to "improve" and bounce back to a more positive route result....I am sure TG won't give DPS completely up as it is too important for the network for customers from Europe etc....
they will put it on a watch list together with many other routes and give it at least one more year to "improve" and bounce back to a more positive route result....I am sure TG won't give DPS completely up as it is too important for the network for customers from Europe etc....
Feb 4, 2015, 9:10 am
#51
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: MRY - CNX - TXL
Programs: UA 1K / *G / Marriott PE / Expedia Gold+ / Hertz PC
Posts: 7,058
There is one small (but I think significant) part of the airline they need to fix and that is their website. They are still in the hangover days of most people making their bookings through travel agents. That is fine to a point as in somewhere like Thailand it is still common, but not so in many other countries. Not having the cheapest available fare show in your main search engine on your website is crazy, the amount of people who don't know there are cheaper fares available by clicking through other links has been numerous. It also has the knock on affect of Thai's fares not appearing through some of the aggregators.
Feb 4, 2015, 9:40 pm
#52
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Bangkok, Thailand
Programs: ROP
Posts: 471
My first time to BKK I went to Siam Paragon and there was a giant TG thing set up with dozens of agent desks, people booking flights, music performances/guests, TG logo shop. It was quite a shock to see all of that and so many people booking airline tickets in the middle of a mall.
Feb 5, 2015, 6:38 am
#54
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: ATL
Programs: DL SkyMiles PM/2MM, AA Plat, IC Diam. Amb., Peninsula regular, amanjunkie
Posts: 5,848
no story...
they will put it on a watch list together with many other routes and give it at least one more year to "improve" and bounce back to a more positive route result....I am sure TG won't give DPS completely up as it is too important for the network for customers from Europe etc....
they will put it on a watch list together with many other routes and give it at least one more year to "improve" and bounce back to a more positive route result....I am sure TG won't give DPS completely up as it is too important for the network for customers from Europe etc....
Just overnight last night I received a message from Thai Airways indicating that my BKK-DPS flight in May has changed to a 773, and my seat has changed. Remarkable that a route on watch for cuts is getting an up-gauge. Until, of course, inevitable last minute equipment changes.
Feb 5, 2015, 8:30 am
#55
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: VZ
Programs: M&M, ROP, KrisFlyer
Posts: 1,028
Ah, ok. Thanks.
Just overnight last night I received a message from Thai Airways indicating that my BKK-DPS flight in May has changed to a 773, and my seat has changed. Remarkable that a route on watch for cuts is getting an up-gauge. Until, of course, inevitable last minute equipment changes.
Just overnight last night I received a message from Thai Airways indicating that my BKK-DPS flight in May has changed to a 773, and my seat has changed. Remarkable that a route on watch for cuts is getting an up-gauge. Until, of course, inevitable last minute equipment changes.
Feb 5, 2015, 1:06 pm
#56
formerly known as Tad's Broiled Steaks
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 6,412
My first time to BKK I went to Siam Paragon and there was a giant TG thing set up with dozens of agent desks, people booking flights, music performances/guests, TG logo shop. It was quite a shock to see all of that and so many people booking airline tickets in the middle of a mall.
TG has a bunch throughout Bangkok, and sometimes I'd just walk in to have a chat, particularly at the branch near Si Lom. (As an aside, they usually have water coolers too, like real estate offices in China...)
Feb 6, 2015, 4:28 am
#57
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: VZ
Programs: M&M, ROP, KrisFlyer
Posts: 1,028
I like how airport offices/booths are still a thing (outside of the US).
TG has a bunch throughout Bangkok, and sometimes I'd just walk in to have a chat, particularly at the branch near Si Lom. (As an aside, they usually have water coolers too, like real estate offices in China...)
TG has a bunch throughout Bangkok, and sometimes I'd just walk in to have a chat, particularly at the branch near Si Lom. (As an aside, they usually have water coolers too, like real estate offices in China...)
Feb 6, 2015, 5:27 am
#58
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: BKK
Programs: TG ROP Platinum, M&M Senator, IHG Platinum, Accor Platinum
Posts: 8,324
Feb 23, 2015, 1:10 am
#59
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: BKK
Programs: TG ROP Platinum, M&M Senator, IHG Platinum, Accor Platinum
Posts: 8,324
TG's president speaks
http://www2.bangkokpost.com/business...ssion-possible
key facts:
- business environment and competition has changed
- if TG continues like that it will be "crashed to the ground" within 4 years
- turn around now is better than chapter 11
- 17 projects with dedicated project leader and 6 strategies; implementation discipline and execution are the keys
- unprofitable routes need to be axed but could comeback after turn around
- target is to increase sales by 20% and cut off 20% "fat" within one year, which means also reduce staff of 25'000 (!) by 5000
Charamporn Jotikasthira is President of TG since November 2014. He holds a bachelor in electrical engineering from MIT and a MBA from Harvard. His career was in the Finance Industry so far.
http://www2.bangkokpost.com/business...ssion-possible
key facts:
- business environment and competition has changed
- if TG continues like that it will be "crashed to the ground" within 4 years
- turn around now is better than chapter 11
- 17 projects with dedicated project leader and 6 strategies; implementation discipline and execution are the keys
- unprofitable routes need to be axed but could comeback after turn around
- target is to increase sales by 20% and cut off 20% "fat" within one year, which means also reduce staff of 25'000 (!) by 5000
Charamporn Jotikasthira is President of TG since November 2014. He holds a bachelor in electrical engineering from MIT and a MBA from Harvard. His career was in the Finance Industry so far.
Feb 25, 2015, 1:26 am
#60
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: BKK
Programs: TG ROP Platinum, M&M Senator, IHG Platinum, Accor Platinum
Posts: 8,324
route Bangkok Madrid will be axed in September 2015
from Today's Bangkok Post:
Thai Airways to sell airplanes & change routes to cut losses
Thai Airways International (THAI) is cutting its fleet of aircraft by 42 to 97 planes and changing a dozen routes this year in a major shakeup intended to reverse its failing fortunes. The national airline lost 12 billion baht in 2013 and 9.21 billion baht in the first nine months of 2014.
It is expected that the operating results for this year will not depend on operations but on asset sales. The airline's board has already approved the sale of 14 airplanes [six Airbus A330-300s, six Airbus A340-600s, and two Boeing 747-400s]. The average age of of its fleet would then be 7.8 years, considered as new and the shorter usage time would cut the aviation management costs of THAI by six percent.
The airline has also either cancelled or adjusted the frequencies of 10 routes, including Bangkok-Johannesburg, which ceased on Jan 15, and Bangkok-Moscow which ended on Jan 29. The Bangkok-Madrid route will be terminated on Sept 6. The terminated routes had been loss-ridden for a long time and had no prospects for recovery. Asian routes have bright prospects, but European routes were shrinking. THAI planned to operate Airbus A380 planes on direct flights from Bangkok to London, Paris and Frankfurt.
http://www2.bangkokpost.com/learning...bruary-24-2015
from Today's Bangkok Post:
Thai Airways to sell airplanes & change routes to cut losses
Thai Airways International (THAI) is cutting its fleet of aircraft by 42 to 97 planes and changing a dozen routes this year in a major shakeup intended to reverse its failing fortunes. The national airline lost 12 billion baht in 2013 and 9.21 billion baht in the first nine months of 2014.
It is expected that the operating results for this year will not depend on operations but on asset sales. The airline's board has already approved the sale of 14 airplanes [six Airbus A330-300s, six Airbus A340-600s, and two Boeing 747-400s]. The average age of of its fleet would then be 7.8 years, considered as new and the shorter usage time would cut the aviation management costs of THAI by six percent.
The airline has also either cancelled or adjusted the frequencies of 10 routes, including Bangkok-Johannesburg, which ceased on Jan 15, and Bangkok-Moscow which ended on Jan 29. The Bangkok-Madrid route will be terminated on Sept 6. The terminated routes had been loss-ridden for a long time and had no prospects for recovery. Asian routes have bright prospects, but European routes were shrinking. THAI planned to operate Airbus A380 planes on direct flights from Bangkok to London, Paris and Frankfurt.
http://www2.bangkokpost.com/learning...bruary-24-2015