BANGKOK, April 22 – Thai Airways International (THAI) in March faced profit losses of another Bt30 million from the original forecast with its passenger load lowered year-on-year by 20.5 per cent.
Chokchai Panyayong, THAI acting president, said the airline’s board had concluded that flight operations last month were reduced in accordance with lower passenger demand as a result of the ongoing political protest and the impact from high competition of other airlines.
Around 1.59 million passengers used the airline in March, a 20.5 per cent decrease year-on-year, resulting in the system’s passenger cabin factor at 68.7 per cent, lower than the same period last year which was 80.3 per cent.
However, Mr Chokchai said the airline will have positive business profits throughout the year, for he believed once the political situation eases, Thailand’s tourism will quickly recover.
Meanwhile, THAI plans to attract more transit passengers with a target of 30 per cent of overall passengers from the current 26-27 per cent.
