Bangkok--4 May--Thai Airways International
Thai Airways International Public Company Limited celebrates its 50th Anniversary with religious ceremony, attended by Mr. Piyasvasti Amranand, THAI’s President, at THAI’s Head Office.
Mr. Piyasvasti Amranand, THAI’s President, said that THAI’s Anniversary takes place on the 1st of May every year. However, this year marks the Company’s 50th Anniversary as the national carrier of the Kingdom of Thailand. On this special occasion, THAI organized a religious ceremony with the participation of THAI’s Management and staff. The ceremony included alms-giving to 51 monks from all over the country.
During this past 50 years, THAI has projected the flag and prestige of the nation as a flying ambassador around the world. THAI has played a vital role in the development of Thailand’s dynamic economy, promoting tourism and trade worldwide and making a major contribution to Thailand’s commercial and social welfare. The Company also helped to establish Bangkok as the leading aviation hub of Southeast Asia.
The history of THAI over the past 50 years has been a story of rapid growth and success. On the morning of May 1st 1960, THAI’s first flight on a Douglas DC-6B aircraft, took off from Bangkok’s Don Mueang Airport with 60 passengers bound for Hong Kong, Taipei and Tokyo. Few could have visualised that, by 2010, THAI would have a fleet of 84 jetliners and carry almost 20 million passengers and 500,000 tons of air cargo annually. Initially, THAI operated a purely regional service from Bangkok to just nine Asian cities. Today, THAI’s route network extends to over 70 destinations across five continents.
As THAI enters the next half century, the Asia-Pacific region is set to become the world’s largest and fastest growing region for passenger and cargo air services. With Asia as its heartland of operation, and Bangkok as Southeast Asia’s leading aviation hub, THAI is well positioned to take full advantage of Asia-Pacific’s growth and is determined to use the opportunity to build an airline that is stronger, more profitable and even more popular among global travellers.
Developments planned for the coming phase of THAI’s dynamic growth include a major increase in the Company’s equity, a development that will substantially increase the Company’s financial strength in the coming years. Recent efforts to reduce costs across all aspects of THAI’s operation have been successful, and will continue to further enhance productivity.
THAI also recognizes its responsibilities in connection with the environment and all ecological issues. As a major consumer of energy, THAI was the first Asia-Pacific airline to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the International Air Transport Association (IATA) to provide passengers with the opportunity to offset carbon generated from flying.
THAI’s prospects for the future are innovative and dynamic, and in the coming decades will see THAI continuing its record of achievement so graphically recorded during our 50-year history.
Director of International Relations Corporate Communications Department
Saturday, 1 May 2010 at 11.00 hrs.
International Public Relations Department
Thai Airways International Public Company Limited
Tel : (662) 545-2662 / 2663 / 1711 / 4686 / 1705 / 2720
Fax : (662) 545-3891