SET-listed Thai Airways International (THAI) will begin to rationalise its network further including the suspension of flights to Los Angeles and Rome in October.
The rationalisation, which basically entails axing and cutting back loss-making routes and using smaller aeroplanes, represents the next move in turning the beleaguered flag carrier around.
The most dramatic move in THAI's winter flight programme starting on Oct 25, which was unveiled yesterday, is the removal of its Bangkok-Incheon-Los Angeles services and Bangkok-Rome routes, currently each served by four flights a week.
But the suspension of the two routes is offset by the doubling of its more popular services to London and Frankfurt, each to twice daily.
The additional daily flights will be served by Boeing 777-300ERs, augmenting the Airbus 380 double-decker jets currently in use.
The frequency of the highly competitive Bangkok-Kolkata route will be halved to one daily.
Flights from Bangkok to Hyderabad, Luang Prabang and Changsha will be assumed by its budget subsidiary, THAI Smile, which operates smaller A320 narrow-body jets instead of the wide-body jets THAI uses on those routes.
President Charamporn Jotikasthira said the changes envisaged in the winter programme complied with the ongoing rehabilitation aimed at reducing costs, raising sales and boosting revenue.
There are 50 routes in THAI's network that either incur losses or have low potential to make a profit.
The airline plans to reduce its routes by 10%, and adjustments made in the forthcoming season represent 5% of the target as some routes have seen improvement, Mr Charamporn said.
The network rationalisation is seen as the second stage of rehabilitation designed to "stop the bleeding" of the 55-year-old airline.
THAI suffered a net loss of 15.6 billion baht last year and 12 billion in 2013 but was able to reverse course in this year's first quarter, posting a net profit of 4.54 billion.
THAI shares closed yesterday on the SET at 12.60 baht, down 20 satang, in trade worth 17.5 million baht.