Wow, these numbers are a bit worse than expected...

Thai Airways suffers huge loss

Thai Airways International (THAI) posted a net loss of 15.57 billion baht in 2014, up by 29.8%, or 3.57 billion baht, from the 2013 loss, due mainly to the local political situation and fierce competition,...

http://www2.bangkokpost.com/news/tra...fers-huge-loss



UPDATE 1-Thai Airways Q4 loss wider than expected, shares slide

Q4 net loss 6.4 bln baht vs estimated 2.6 bln

Q4 passengers down 9.8 pct on year to 4.78 mln

Forex gain in qtr offset by fuel hedge losses-official

Shares drop to 9-month low after earnings (Adds analyst comments and details of results)

By Khettiya Jittapong

BANGKOK, Feb 26 (Reuters) - Thai Airways International PCL posted a wider-than-expected fourth-quarter loss as a drop in passenger numbers after months of domestic political unrest hurt the national carrier, pushing its shares down to a nine-month low.

The performance raised concerns on whether the carrier can turn around quickly while it battles fierce competition and soaring debt, brought about by high operating costs and aircraft purchases in recent years.

The airline is one of Thailand's major state companies undergoing reform since the military seized power in May. It is expected to post further losses this year due to higher costs from restructuring, which involves cutting operating costs and capacity by 20 percent, selling aircraft and job cuts.

http://in.reuters.com/article/2015/0...0W02JN20150226

Management Discussion and Analysis:

http://centreforaviation.com/files/a...i-set05-en.pdf





http://www.set.or.th/set/companynews...=en&country=US


http://www.set.or.th/set/newsdetails...=en&country=US

http://www.set.or.th/set/pdfnews.do?...2F15015198.pdf

This factual analysis shows hot bad the situation is at TG.
There is a huge drop in passengers revenue, a significant drop in freight revenues. Employee expenses are stable as there was a one-off provision for special benefits last year. The only bright spots are the reduction in oil prices and currency gains, but these are external events. If TG cuts operations in 2015, it will really need to layoff a huge number of employees to retain to profitability. The 50% cut that someone mentioned above, might be on the high side but the 7,000 voluntary departures mentioned by management are clearly and totally insufficient.

That does not make for good reading, everything is down big time. No airline can make money with load factors at around 60%, that's a lot of empty seats flying around. And to top that off their yield is going backwards too. Interest expenses going up. More crazy aircraft planning acquiring a useless amount of 4 A350's in the next FY.

Also I know it is probably a translated report from Thai but it they want to provide a professional front they should be hiring a better translator.

I hope they can be turned around, the new guy has said a lot but it will be in the action that counts. I just don't get their sales strategy and I help a heap of people book tickets.

Hearing all this bad news, I assume the government will be behind them whatever happens right, so they won't ever get to a bankruptcy situation?

Yes, that is the current assessment as the "government" has given them ~ four years of "support". Although at some point they may need to break out the "black paint", oops, sorry "de-identifying" the "brand"?

http://edition.cnn.com/2013/09/09/tr...logos-blurred/

Even with the new CEO's 'connections' (SCB), no local bank wants to give them any more money, so they need the citizens to prop them up until good luck returns.

I'm not sure there are even bankruptcy (protection) laws here; most Thais just do a runner if they owe money, then change their names.

Could, should but...

Thai Airways says could sell assets to cover 2015 losses

(Reuters) - Thai Airways International PCL (THAI.BK) will sell some of its 15.5 billion baht (318.95 million pounds) of non-core assets to cover any losses this year from one-off hits for cutting its fleet and workforce, the company's president said on Friday.

A sharp drop in fuel costs should save Thailand's national carrier around 16 billion baht in 2015 and return it to operating profit for the first time since 2012, Charumporn Jotikasthira told Reuters in an interview.

But a return to operating profit might not be enough to cover the costs of restructuring, said Charumporn, a former head of the Stock Exchange of Thailand appointed in December by the military junta which seized power last May.

"We have our holdings in other companies, we have land, hotels ... we can sell if we need to," he said.

http://uk.reuters.com/article/2015/0...0M21I620150306

Its worth what someone is willing to pay for it, not what its 'book value is'. Who would want to buy a 4 engine plane? There are hundreds sitting in storage (ie VCV) with no one willing to buy them.

More airlines settle collusion lawsuit

The Nation March 11, 2015 1:00 am

Thai Airways International is likely to pay out compensation this year as part of the settlements on a class-action lawsuit involving collusion on airline ticket sales, as the case is coming to an end.

US law firms Cotchett, Pitre & McCarthy and Hausfeld announced on Monday that three more airlines had decided to settle the class-action suit, boosting the settlement fund to US$39.5 million (Bt1.29 billion).

In late 2013, THAI was one of five airlines - Japan Airlines International, Air France, Vietnam Airlines and Malaysian Airline System - that agreed to a settlement of $22.2 million.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/busi...-30255733.html

You can only sell the house once! If they are income producing assets it wouldn't seem to be the best idea.

THAI plans to tempt fliers with revamp

Thai Airways International Plc (THAI) will revamp its sales units and boost passenger numbers in a bid to generate more revenue, the airline's president Charamporn Jotikasthira said. The plan was announced...

The company plans to borrow 15 billion baht this year to boost its liquidity and repay debts, and up to 20 billion baht in 2016.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/gene...rs-with-revamp

Another nothing article. Not a lot of substance in this stuff.

Finally, changes coming, in the pineapple :rolleyes:

Hmmm, I wonder who controls most of the pineapple industry here? :D


THAI jettisons punchless pineapples

Prayut's sour grapes lead to menu change

17 Mar 2015

Less than three weeks after Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha's complained about its food and fruit, Thai Airways International moved to punch up its menu. The flag carrier on Tuesday signed an agreement...

"There will be no more tasteless pineapples,'' he said. "From now on passengers will get fresh, yellow ones."


http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/tran...ess-pineapples

it's at least clear who owns Doi Kham, the company that enters a contract with TG

Could we kindly ask the Prime Minister also complain about food in the lounges:D - especially in the evening when the SQ Lounge is already closed:D