by Roderick Eime in Bangkok
Thai Airways International President, Mr Sorajak Kasemsuvan, reinforced the international full-service long-hail carrier's intention to expand operations while addressing media at the opening of Incentive Travel and Conventions Meetings Asia (IT&CMA) in Bangkok.
"2013 has been a remarkable and challenging year for THAI, with our management and staff across the company having worked very hard in all areas to improve our product and service standards, as well as developing new markets," said Mr Kasemsuvan.
He reiterated the focus on new destinations such as Sapporo (Japan) for THAI which will increase from four to seven weekly flights as well as wholly owned regional carrier THAI Smile heading to Chonqing and Changsha in China as well as recently announced route to Macau.
A fifth A380 will arrive this month and lift passenger numbers to Narita (Tokyo) while THAI Smile will gain two A320-200s and one B777 aircraft for regional and short-haul international routes. These acquisitions reflect the airline's strategy for meeting expected growth.
Mr. Kasemsuvan also reminded the assembled journalists that THAI Smile will shortly become an entity in its own right with formal approval being granted for corporate separation. The airline will shortly obtain its own two-letter code and staff will no longer rotate between the two airlines. While Mr Kasemsuvan could not confirm the adoption of the Star Alliance or Royal Orchid Plus membership benefits under the new format, he conceded the tie-in was 'probable'.
Although THAI was not currently servicing the Low Cost Carrier (LCC) market directly, Mr Kasemsuvan hinted that co-operation with 49 per cent THAI owned Nok Air was likely to increase in the near future.
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