The airports authority wants to hold Thai Airways International (THAI) more accountable as a major ground service provider for the effects of strikes.
Flashback: Frustrated passengers from THAI’s flight from Kunming wait impatiently at Suvarnabhumi airport’s baggage carousels last week.
State-controlled Airports of Thailand Plc (AoT) wants to avoid a repeat of what happened last week when THAI workers downed tools unannounced.
It plans to scrutinise the 30-year concession granted to the flag carrier for providing handing services to airlines at Suvarnabhumi airport.
The scrutiny will include whether more stringer performance indicators are needed and whether a third concessionaire for ground services should be allowed, senior AoT executives said.
AoT's move came after discovering the effects of the Jan 18-19 strike were more serious than the airline claimed.
A total of 302 international flights were delayed. While 233 were THAI flights, 69 were operated by foreign carriers that rely on THAI's services.
More than 70,000 frustrated passengers were affected by delays ranging from 15 minutes to four hours and 23 minutes, according to AoT officials.
THAI earlier said that only 76 THAI flights _ 63 international and 13 domestic _ were affected when about 400 ground staff stopped working to pressure the airline for pay rises and a bigger annual bonus.
Unionists had demanded a two-month bonus for 2012 and a 7.5% pay rise for low-paid workers.
Management agreed, subject to the airline board's consideration slated for Feb 8, to a one-month annual bonus and to increase the provision of performance-based special bonuses to 500 million baht from 200 million baht.
The airline handles as much as 70% of all ground services including the handling of passengers' baggage _ the area that directly affects travellers.
THAI provides handling services for 50-60 other carriers.
AoT's other concessionaire for ground handling services is Bangkok Flight Services, part of the Bangkok Airways group.
AOT executives said a meeting with THAI senior management will be held soon to address issues arising from the strike that they said have damaged the country's reputation in general and Suvarnabhumi in particular.