THAI plans to tempt fliers with revamp

THAI plans to tempt fliers with revamp

Thai Airways International Plc (THAI) will revamp its sales units and boost passenger numbers in a bid to generate more revenue, the airline's president Charamporn Jotikasthira said. 

The plan was announced at a THAI board meeting chaired by Areepong Bhoocha-oom, chairman of the board of directors and permanent secretary for energy. 

THAI will review the structure of its sales units — including working methods, equipment and computer systems — in a bid to increase revenue, Mr Charamporn said. 

The restructuring could take between six and eight months. 

The company also has set a target of increasing its "cabin factor" from 70% last year to 80%, the airline president said, referring to the percentage of seats sold.

"Other airlines have set a cabin factor at 80% and this is the target THAI wants to achieve this year. It will be reached next year for sure," Mr Charamporn said. 

The rise in cabin factor should boost revenue, he said, adding that cheap tickets would also increase passenger numbers.

Mr Charamporn said the company's earnings from January to February are better than those of the same period last year when the country was embroiled in political protests. 

During next month's Songkran festival, at least seven flights will be added per day, flying to Phuket, Chiang Mai and Krabi, he said.

Additional flights could increase the number of daily passengers by 4,000, he added. 

The company plans to borrow 15 billion baht this year to boost its liquidity and repay debts, and up to 20 billion baht in 2016.

Two more planes will be handed over to THAI soon, and another two will be delivered late this year, he said. 

He conceded the number of passengers on THAI flights to Chiang Mai has dropped due to the haze problem caused by slash-and-burn farming.

Flight numbers will improve during the Songkran water-throwing festival, traditionally a busy tourist period, he said.

The number of Chinese passengers has soared by 20%, while European fliers are decreasing, Mr Charamporn said.

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