Out of *A? Not just a rumour! Announcement pending?
Feb 9, 2000, 8:40 am
#1
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Out of *A? Not just a rumour! Announcement pending?
Thai Airways International said Wednesday it is considering leaving the Star Alliance of linked airlines to join a rival group:
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/f/AP...-Alliance.html
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/f/AP...-Alliance.html
Feb 9, 2000, 12:00 pm
#2
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For those without NYTimes accounts:
Wednesday February 9, 10:00 am Eastern Time
Thai Air May Leave Star Alliance
By CHANYAPORN CHANJAROEN
BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) -- Thai Airways International said Wednesday it is considering
leaving the Star Alliance of linked airlines to join a rival group.
The move apparently was prompted by the imminent membership in the Star Alliance of
stronger regional rival Singapore Airlines.
``We have asked our financial adviser to consider whether it is better to stay with the Star Alliance or whether it is better to leave,'' said
Thamnoon Wanglee, president of Thai Airways.
The decision to review Star membership came after figures showed Singapore Airlines cost Thai Airways $10 million last year by taking
over some non-alliance code-sharing agreements with Lufthansa on flights from Europe, a Thai Airways official said, speaking on condition
of anonymity.
Singapore Airlines is scheduled to join Star in April. The group also includes United Airlines, Lufthansa, Air Canada, Air New Zealand, All
Nippon Airways, Scandinavian Airlines System and Varig of Brazil.
Thailand's national carrier could jump to the rival Oneworld alliance, which doesn't yet have a Southeast Asian member, analysts told Dow
Jones Newswires.
Qantas Airways and British Airways, founding members of Oneworld, are interested in Bangkok as a hub for routes to Australia, said Chin
Lim, an airline analyst at Morgan Stanley Dean Witter in Singapore.
Oneworld also includes Cathay Pacific, Canadian Airlines, American Airlines, Finnair and Spain's Iberia Airlines. Ireland's Aer Lingus and
Lan Chile have agreed to join later this year.
Wednesday February 9, 10:00 am Eastern Time
Thai Air May Leave Star Alliance
By CHANYAPORN CHANJAROEN
BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) -- Thai Airways International said Wednesday it is considering
leaving the Star Alliance of linked airlines to join a rival group.
The move apparently was prompted by the imminent membership in the Star Alliance of
stronger regional rival Singapore Airlines.
``We have asked our financial adviser to consider whether it is better to stay with the Star Alliance or whether it is better to leave,'' said
Thamnoon Wanglee, president of Thai Airways.
The decision to review Star membership came after figures showed Singapore Airlines cost Thai Airways $10 million last year by taking
over some non-alliance code-sharing agreements with Lufthansa on flights from Europe, a Thai Airways official said, speaking on condition
of anonymity.
Singapore Airlines is scheduled to join Star in April. The group also includes United Airlines, Lufthansa, Air Canada, Air New Zealand, All
Nippon Airways, Scandinavian Airlines System and Varig of Brazil.
Thailand's national carrier could jump to the rival Oneworld alliance, which doesn't yet have a Southeast Asian member, analysts told Dow
Jones Newswires.
Qantas Airways and British Airways, founding members of Oneworld, are interested in Bangkok as a hub for routes to Australia, said Chin
Lim, an airline analyst at Morgan Stanley Dean Witter in Singapore.
Oneworld also includes Cathay Pacific, Canadian Airlines, American Airlines, Finnair and Spain's Iberia Airlines. Ireland's Aer Lingus and
Lan Chile have agreed to join later this year.
May 23, 2000, 11:32 pm
#3
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AF is now pushing hard to acquire TG as a member of its nascent alliance with "NOname"
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum6/HTML/000064.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum6/HTML/000064.html
May 24, 2000, 6:04 am
#4
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Why would 1W want Thai to join them? They already have Cathay as an Asian partner and TG joining 1W would create more problems than SQ joining *A. TG would be competing directly with BA and QF for Australian, NZ and European flights. Codeshare flights between QF/BA and TG? Hmmmmmmm... there seems to be a significant difference in the level of service that these carriers provide not to mention the price. It really looks like adding a 5th wheel to a car.
May 24, 2000, 6:39 am
#5
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But "Noname" is a different story! 
TG could be a "big" player in a smaller alliance:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum...ML/000009.html
TG could be a "big" player in a smaller alliance:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum...ML/000009.html
May 24, 2000, 7:14 am
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However, if any Asian carrier is going to come into NoName it will be KE.
Both AF and DL have previous relationships with them, they have a strong network out of SEL, which is much more accessible from the US than BKK, and is a faster CNX from CDG.
Having a north and a Southeast Asian carrier makes sense in an alliance, but given the size of *, TG is probably better off there, since * will ultimately generate more traffic for them, even with the presence of SQ.
Both AF and DL have previous relationships with them, they have a strong network out of SEL, which is much more accessible from the US than BKK, and is a faster CNX from CDG.
Having a north and a Southeast Asian carrier makes sense in an alliance, but given the size of *, TG is probably better off there, since * will ultimately generate more traffic for them, even with the presence of SQ.
May 26, 2000, 9:22 am
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Thai is facing increased competition from regional rivals, especially after Singapore Airlines Ltd joined the same airline grouping, the Star Alliance, last month.
SIA's presence may undermine Bangkok's role as an airport hub in South-east Asia, adding to the pressure on Thai to improve its services.
Thai Airways now has 74 planes. Two more Boeing 777-300 jets are scheduled for delivery this year, the spokeswoman said. The cost of those, about 6 billion baht, will also be included in the budget discussion. The airline's plan is to have 81 planes in its fleet by 2005.
Thai Airways International's board is considering buying five long-range Boeing Co aircraft over the next five years.
The plane purchase, part of yesterday's discussions by the company's board, would make up much of the state-controlled carrier's investment budget, the spokeswoman said. She declined to specify the models or precise amount involved, and asked not to be identified.
The Bangkok Post yesterday reported that 31.7 billion baht had been earmarked for five planes, out of a 77.8 billion baht budget through September 2005. The purchase plan, however, is likely to face opposition, the newspaper reported, citing an unidentified executive.
The new planes will be long-range aircraft to increase Thai Airways' service on transcontinental and Asia-Pacific routes.
Thai Airways' most recent plane acquisition programme came in 1997, when its board approved an order for 21 aircraft. Twelve were ordered from Boeing -- mostly long-range 747-400s and 777-300s - and nine from Airbus Industrie, the European manufacturing consortium.
As part of its budget discussion, the board will look at other spending. That includes a proposal given preliminary approval at last month's board meeting to invest 14 billion baht on facilities for the airline at a new Bangkok airport scheduled to open in 2004.
SIA's presence may undermine Bangkok's role as an airport hub in South-east Asia, adding to the pressure on Thai to improve its services.
Thai Airways now has 74 planes. Two more Boeing 777-300 jets are scheduled for delivery this year, the spokeswoman said. The cost of those, about 6 billion baht, will also be included in the budget discussion. The airline's plan is to have 81 planes in its fleet by 2005.
Thai Airways International's board is considering buying five long-range Boeing Co aircraft over the next five years.
The plane purchase, part of yesterday's discussions by the company's board, would make up much of the state-controlled carrier's investment budget, the spokeswoman said. She declined to specify the models or precise amount involved, and asked not to be identified.
The Bangkok Post yesterday reported that 31.7 billion baht had been earmarked for five planes, out of a 77.8 billion baht budget through September 2005. The purchase plan, however, is likely to face opposition, the newspaper reported, citing an unidentified executive.
The new planes will be long-range aircraft to increase Thai Airways' service on transcontinental and Asia-Pacific routes.
Thai Airways' most recent plane acquisition programme came in 1997, when its board approved an order for 21 aircraft. Twelve were ordered from Boeing -- mostly long-range 747-400s and 777-300s - and nine from Airbus Industrie, the European manufacturing consortium.
As part of its budget discussion, the board will look at other spending. That includes a proposal given preliminary approval at last month's board meeting to invest 14 billion baht on facilities for the airline at a new Bangkok airport scheduled to open in 2004.
Jun 15, 2000, 1:07 pm
#11
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Thai Airways International, has denied it plans to join a new partnership expected to be announced next week by Delta Air Lines and Air France.
Thai Air is "very much a part of Star Alliance" and denies it will join a Delta/Air France alliance, according to a Thai Air spokeswoman.
http://news.airwise.com/cgi-bin/stor...961149283.html
Thai Air is "very much a part of Star Alliance" and denies it will join a Delta/Air France alliance, according to a Thai Air spokeswoman.
http://news.airwise.com/cgi-bin/stor...961149283.html
Jun 29, 2000, 5:32 am
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There appears to be continued intense competiton for Thai, as AF again noted its interest and suggested it will join DL in bidding for a 10% purchase stake in Thai Air.
UPDATE:
Thai Airways International Plc said on Thursday it would start taking bids in September from potential strategic partners for a block of 10 percent of its shares.
http://biz.yahoo.com/rf/000706/bkk21261.html
[This message has been edited by doc (edited 07-07-2000).]
UPDATE:
Thai Airways International Plc said on Thursday it would start taking bids in September from potential strategic partners for a block of 10 percent of its shares.
http://biz.yahoo.com/rf/000706/bkk21261.html
[This message has been edited by doc (edited 07-07-2000).]
Jul 21, 2000, 7:29 am
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Thai Airways said Friday it expects an additional 13% stake of the airline to be on the market by November.
http://dowjones.wsj.com/archive/gx.c...er=display-d2h
http://dowjones.wsj.com/archive/gx.c...er=display-d2h
Sep 26, 2000, 9:26 am
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SkyTeam is still in negotiations with Alitalia, the Daily learned, encouraging the airline to join the group next year. This comes in addition to efforts to pull Thai Airways away from Star Alliance. "Those two carrier are the top priority for the group right now," Harckman said. While SkyTeam members continue to court other carriers, officials maintain, however, that it does not want to exceed 10 airlines.
http://www.aviationnow.com/TwoShare/...72638690185474
http://www.aviationnow.com/TwoShare/...72638690185474
Sep 27, 2000, 4:16 am
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Doc... I wonder what would lure Thai away from *A ?? Many speculated that SQ would just be too strong and eclipse them, but I see them as two very different products.