Bangkok--23 Sep--Thai Airways
Thai Airways International Public Company Limited (THAI) held its Board of Directors Meeting, chaired by Mr. Ampon Kittiampon, THAI’s Chairman of the Board of Directors, with the following results.
1. Operating Results for August 2013
THAI’s Board of Directors acknowledged the Company’s operating performance for August 2013, compared to the same month last year, Available Seat-Kilometer (ASK) increased 10.8 percent due to new aircraft deliveries and route adjustments based on passenger demand. Revenue Passenger-Kilometer (RPK) increased 9.9 percent, resulting in an average Cabin Factor of 78.0 percent, which was lower than the same month last year at an average of 78.7 percent with cabin factor on some routes during this month being higher than the same month last year, such as routes to and from Europe, Southern Region, Middle East. The number of passengers carried increased 6.2 percent, when compared to the same month last year.
For THAI Smile in August 2013, Cabin Factor averaged 77.0 percent, lower than the same month last year which averaged 82.5 percent, which resulted from an increase in domestic and international destinations. Currently, THAI Smile business unit serves 13 routes, compared to four routes last year.
As a result of the world economic slowdown and fierce competition, the Company’s Cargo and Commercial Mail operations reported a Revenue Freight Ton-Kilometer (RFTK) that decreased 9.4 percent, compared to the same month last year. Available Dead Ton-Kilometers (ADTK) was the equivalent of the same month last year, that resulted in a combined Freight Load Factor in the belly and freighter that averaged 45.6 percent, which was less than the same month last year by an average of 50.4 percent.
2. New Destinations
THAI’s Board of Directors approved of the opening of the following four new routes, in order to increase revenue as targeted and meet market demands:
Bangkok-Chongqing-Bangkok in the People’s Republic of China, with flights operated by THAI Smile with Airbus A320-200 aircraft, three flights per week, effective 27 October 2013. Bangkok-Changsha-Bangkok in the People’s Republic of China, with flights operated by THAI Smile with Airbus A320-200 aircraft, three flights per week, effective 27 October 2013. Flight frequency will be increased to five flights per week beginning 16 January 2014. Bangkok-Luang Prabang-Bangkok in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, with flights operated by THAI Smile with Airbus A320-200 aircraft, seven flights per week, effective 16 November 2013. Bangkok-Sendai-Bangkok in Japan, which will be operated by THAI with Airbus A330-300 at three flights per week, effective 3 December 2013.
3. Restructure of Commercial Department
THAI’s Board of Directors approved a restructuring within the Commercial Department to ensure alignment with the Company’s commercial strategies. With rapid changes in the operating environment and ever increasing competition, the department responsible for revenue generation needs to be flexible and respond rapidly to such environmental changes. Emphasis also needs to be placed on generating quality revenue and facilitating customer sales. The change in organization structure reflects the reality of the changing operating environment and to strengthen THAI’s Commercial Department operations. The new organizational structure encompasses five units:
1. Marketing and Revenue Management Department
2. Sales & Distribution Department — Area Thailand and Indochina
3. Sales & Distribution Department — Regional
4. Sales & Distribution Department — Intercontinental
5. Digital Commercial Department
THAI’s Board of Directors also appointed Vice Presidents to replace those who will be retiring this September.