The annual shareholders meeting of Thai Airways International (THAI) on Tuesday turned into a forum to attack absent board member Ampon Kittiampon for his actions when he was chairman of the airline.
Disgruntled small shareholders turned the meeting at the Royal Air Force auditorium into an avenue to reprimand airline executives, with Mr Ampon their main target for complaints about financial losses.
Mr Ampon did not attend the meeting.
He was the board chairman from 2009 to last month, when he resigned amid complaints over poor performance of the company. Stockholders called for his resignation from the board.
One investor on Tuesday stood up to call for the firm to save costs by slashing the number of board members from 15 to nine.
Jaemsri Sukchoterat, an adviser to the THAI Labour Union, agreed with this recommendation. She also called for the end of dominance by the Finance Ministry, the loss-making airlines's major shareholder.
THAI suffered a 12 billion baht loss last year, almost double that of 2012 loses of 6.5 billion baht.
ACM Prajin Juntong, who succeeded Mr Ampon, tried to calm the shareholders with a promise to restore confidence of THAI among passengers, shareholders and staff within six months.
Acting airline president Chokechai Panyayong blamed the losses largely on the shifting policy of China to discourage its citizens from travelling abroad, and the political turmoil at home which has put a damper on the tourism sector.