Tag Archives for thai airways.
Thai Airways is suing a passenger who complained about them online. The customer questioned the airline’s decision to divert a Bangkok – Melbourne flight to Sydney, leading to a four hour delay. Since the airline says that the crew “followed international safety and security standards” they believe they need to protect their “reputation and that of its personnel.”
Part of the Thai Airways turnaround plan, prior to the pandemic and bankruptcy, was to sell branded frozen food. It’s taken two years, but that’s finally about to start.
Is it wrong to hope that the airline’s rehabilitation plan includes retrofitting existing long haul aircraft with a first class cabin? That’s probably more of a political move (to appease minor royal relatives and generals) than a business one, but I’ve genuinely valued access to their excess inventory through miles and points over the last two decades.
Twenty six employees of Thai Airways are accused of faking their own deaths to collect a death benefit, but still going to work and continuing to collect a paycheck.
Barry Michaels has been trying to start an airline for 30 years. The idea all along has been the same: fly Boeing 747s domestically with cheap fares. He used to call the idea “Family Airlines.” And he even went to prison for tax and securities fraud in connection with raising money for the venture.
It’s now called Avatar Airlines, and they’ve sent out a press release ‘planning’ a billion dollar valuation – without even flying!
Thai Airways has opened a refurbished Royal Orchid business class lounge in Bangkok. It’s an international departures lounge on level 3 of the Suvarnabhumi airport E concourse. It’s a strange time to be making capital investments and opening a lounge when the airline is not generally selling international flights leaving the country.
The former Chairman of Thai Airways is just now receiving a two year sentence for activities dating to 2009: he abused his authority by not paying overweight bag fees on a trip home from Japan. The incident was investigated – and he paid back the fees, and lost his job – a decade ago.
The President of Thai Airways says it “only has enough financial reserves to last until December” and they don’t even have the cash to pay severance to employees that have opted for early retirement as part of the carrier’s turnaround plan.
Without fresh capital and real reform Thai Airways will remain a zombie (or just a frozen food brand).
Necessity is the mother of invention, and the coronavirus pandemic has created plenty of necessity. Thai Airways is in the midst of restructuring and they’re looking for revenue anywhere they can find it.
Among the course options, for 2800 Baht ($89) you can learn to be a flight attendant. Their safety course lets you head down the emergency slide and put a real fire out on a plane. You can even take cooking classes to make inflight Thai meals.
Thai Airways is currently in bankruptcy restructuring and suffering from the pandemic’s reduced demand and borders that are closed to tourism. The airline is looking for revenue anywhere it can find some. They’ve opened a restaurant so you can eat plane food on the ground. And they’re promoting deals for use of their flight simulators with an instructor, too.
According to Thai’s executive vice president of operations, Squadron Leader Soradech Namruangsri, the revenue-generating opportunity comes because the airline hasn’t resumed normal operations.
Gary Leff is one of the foremost experts in the field of miles, points, and frequent business travel -- a topic he has covered since 2002.
Co-founder of frequent flyer community InsideFlyer.com, emcee of the Freddie Awards, and named one of the "World's Top Travel Experts" by Conde' Nast Traveler (2010-Present) Gary has been a guest on most major news media, profiled in several top print publications, and published broadly on the topic of consumer loyalty. More About Gary »
