THAI targets Cebu as a new market

THAI targets Cebu as a new market

A jeepney in Cebu City. The city is one of the new targets for Thai Airways International. (Photo by Peerawat Jariyasombat)
A jeepney in Cebu City. The city is one of the new targets for Thai Airways International. (Photo by Peerawat Jariyasombat)

Thai Airways International is looking at Cebu City as another potential destination in the Philippines in addition to the capital Manila.

THAI president Charumporn Jotikasthira said on Thursday the national carrier has added Cebu City in the central Philippines to its new destination list and the route will be launched when the airline is ready.

Manila is the only stop for the airline in the Philippines.

The planned Cebu route is part of the national carrier's plan to expand its wings to more cities or revive scrapped routes which now have the potential to make a profit. That includes flights to Moscow, which will relaunch in October, he added.

THAI plans to relaunch services to the Unites States.

Teerapol Chotichanapibal, executive president in charge of commerce, said on April 7 that possible landing cities were Los Angeles, Washington, New York or San Francisco.

Mr Charumporn said on Thursday that Los Angeles had been ruled out after learning from mistakes from past marketing plans.

THAI dropped the loss-riddent service to Los Angeles last year.

As the airline is studying a new landing in the US, the president said he hoped that flights to the US would be relaunched next year, pending the decision of the US Federation Aviation Administration to upgrade Thailand's air safety rating.

The US aviation regulating agency downgraded Thailand last year after the country was given a red flag by the International Civil Aviation Organisation due to safety concerns.

The airline expects to return to profit this year after suffering a loss of 13 billion baht last year.

Do you like the content of this article?
COMMENT (1)