Thai Airways International (THAI) has decided to drop three loss-making domestic routes and allow its budget affiliate Nok Air to take over the flights starting from March 1.
Nok Air will assume the services from Bangkok to Phitsanulok, Ubon Ratchathani and Mae Hong Son as part of a rationalisation that also underscores a new chapter of co-operation between the once-feuding affiliates.Over the past five years, THAI has lost an average of 86.3 million baht a year on flights to Phitsanulok, 74.9 million baht on Ubon Ratchathani, and 49.9 million on Mae Hong Son.
THAI hopes that Nok Air, in which it has a 39% interest, will be able to operate those flights economically.
THAI president Piyasvasti Amranand said the decision was necessary in view of the financial difficulties the airline faced. But businesses in the affected provinces are unhappy and question the standards of services and safety of the budget carrier.
Dr Piyasvasti insisted that Nok would operate the same number of flights as THAI did, and that it would continue to uphold the safety standards applied to THAI.
He said passengers in any case would benefit from lower fares.
Bron: Bangkok Post.
Theo