From todays Bangkok Post;

THAI heads to Oslo with idle jetliners
By: BOONSONG KOSITCHOTETHANA
Published: 1/05/2009 at 12:00 AM
Newspaper section: BusinessThai Airways International is to embark on a new service between Bangkok and Oslo in a bid to utilise the idle capacity left by its four long-range Airbus jetliners. The flag carrier will also step up frequencies on the existing non-stop Bangkok-Los Angeles route to daily from four flights a week to achieve full utilisation of A340-500s.

These are considered the most viable options available for the jetliners that have spent most of their time on the tarmac of Suvarnabhumi airport after THAI's futile bid to dispose of them.

The four aircraft have been under-utilised after THAI dropped its non-stop daily Bangkok-New York, which was introduced to great fanfare in May 2005, on July 1 last year after heavy losses in the wake of spiking fuel prices.

The jets have since only been deployed for the Bangkok-Los Angeles, the only route viable for an aircraft that can fly non-stop for 16,000 km with an enormous load of fuel.

A major problem with these jets is the limited seating capacity: a plane carries only 215 with 60 in business class.

Lower fuel prices and a relatively high cabin factor helped justify raising the Bangkok-Los Angeles frequencies.

THAI will begin the Bangkok-Oslo service, at five times a week, on June 15. Flights to Los Angeles will become daily on June 1, according to executives.

The idea is the brainchild of Wallop Bhukkanasut, a member of the task force entrusted to rehabilitate the beleaguered THAI, which posted a net loss of 21.38 billion baht last year.

Mr Wallop, who retired as THAI's former executive vice-president for commercial affairs two years ago and was recently appointed a board member of the airline, believes greater use of the jets will improve revenues by 1.5 billion baht over a six-month period.

The additional revenue will also help with liquidity, a problem given the downturn in business, according to Mr Wallop, who heads a sub-group of the business rehabilitation committee for revenue generation.

Idling the aircraft cost the airline about 100 million baht a month.

Bangkok-Oslo is the only new route for THAI, which trimmed its network the past few years as business sputtered.

THAI will become the first carrier in Southeast Asia to operate non-stop flights to the Norwegian capital.

The airline sees potential for business traffic as competition to Oslo is low.

Aside from a new Thai market, the Oslo debut will also strengthen THAI's Nordic network, which now includes Copenhagen and Stockholm.

Thailand last year attracted 750,000 arrivals from Scandinavia, with 15% from Norway.

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Well... I guess revenue is more important than profit