Five members resigned from the board of Thai Airways International (THAI) on Friday, as ACM Prajin Juntong remains chairman of the state-owned airline despite an earlier commitment to stand down.
Then-board chairman Amphon Kitti-amphon, centre, addresses a rally at Thai Airways International headquarters on June 23, 2012. He resigned from the airline's board on Friday, June 20, 2014, along with other members. (Photo by Taweechai Tawatpakorn)
The resignations of Ampon Kittiampon, a former chairman of the board, and four other members - Pol Gen Adul Saengsingkaew, Weerawong Chittmittrapap, Sutham Siritipsakorn and Dheerasak Suwannayos - were approved at the board's meeting on Friday. They had given notice of their intention to step down.
The approval took immediate effect.
Their departure leaves five vacancies on the 15-seat board. ACM Prajin said after the meeting their replacements would soon be appointed.
ACM Prajin had earlier said he would quit and set an example for other members of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) in similar positions.
He put his departure on hold after NCPO chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha convinced him to reconsider.
''I've shown my spirit, in line with an NCPO policy to improve the performance of all boards.
"I consulted army chief and NCPO chairman Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha, he asked me to stay on as there are still more things to do at the airline,'' the air force commander-in-chief said after the meeting.
He did not detail future plans to rescue the airline, to bring it out of the red.
Plans plans tabled for the meeting included orders to improve its performance in several areas, including a better ticketing service, cutting unnecessary expenses and projects, and putting on hold a plan to purchase more new aircraft.
ACM Prajin is also a board member of PTT Plc. He told reporters he has no intention to double as chairman of both state-owned enterprises.
The air force chief was appointed THAI board chairman in March after yet another year of poor performances by the flag-carrier airline, and opposition by staff to his tenure, forced Mr Ampon to step down.
The board meeting on Friday also gave a stamped of approval to the end of free tickets for all board members. Any board members who had made reservations for a trip using their privileges were ordered to cancel, ACM Prajin said.
The board did not take up the issue of tax payments by all staff. THAI staff receive a net salary as the airline pays their taxes for them. There have been growing calls from the public to scrap this policy.
Each member of the airline's board has until now received 10 free tickets for travel on domestic routes and another 10 free trips to international destinations, in business class, every year, travelling on THAI. The tickets could be used by other members of the family.