BANGKOK, Feb 18 – Thai Airways International (THAI), Thailand’s flag carrier, has reported a 30 per cent drop in passengers from October without any sign of recovery in the near future.
Chokchai Panyayong, THAI acting president, said the political impasse since October and China’s new regulation on zero-dollar tours have negatively impacted THAI performance.
The passenger load was 72 per cent last month and it will possibly fall to 70 per cent this month with a predicted Q1 passenger volume at 71-72 per cent and further real duction to 70 per cent in Q2, which is the annual low season, he said.
He said the recent bad weather in Japan had slightly affected and delayed THAI flights and revenue on the Thailand-Japan route.
THAI yesterday unveiled Thai Sky Connect, a wi-fi service on board six Airbus A380-800 flights–Bangkok to Paris, Frankfurt, Osaka, Hong Kong and Tokyo–and seven Airbus A330-300(33H) from Bangkok to Perth, Taipei, Shanghai, Hong Kong and Osaka.
