FD/DD/TG*/PG/OX | Thailand-Based Carriers

[sasamakan]

Originally Posted by Powerstone

First TG's retro jet

http://www.airliners.net/photo/Thai-...4D7/1664769/L/

I hate the THAI sign on the tail, it looks

[knrOctober]

Originally Posted by maracus

http://www.prthaiairways.com/thaiair...?dng=881&lg=en

THAI Announces 50 th Anniversary Projects, Marking Dedication to Customers




Thai Airways International Public Company Limited announced special projects that will be held to commemorate its 50 th Anniversary of establishment. The announcement was made at a press conference held for the first time inside the passenger cabin of the Company’s Boeing 747-400 aircraft painted in THAI’s original livery that was used during its early years of operation.


As part of THAI’s 50 th Anniversary celebration, the Company will re-live its historical first flight on the route Bangkok – Hong Kong on 1 May 2010. On this special “Nostalgic Flight,” passengers will experience THAI’s first flight to Hong Kong as flown 50 years ago on 1 May 1960 and will travel on board a Boeing 747-400 that was repainted in the livery seen on the original DC-6B aircraft in 1960. THAI cabin crew will also help to set the mood as they will be dressed in the uniforms of those early days. THAI’s nostalgic flight will depart from Suvarnabhumi International Airport at 14.30 hrs on Saturday, 1 May 2010 and there will be special anniversary celebrations held upon arrival in Hong Kong marking this auspicious occasion. A special Royal Orchid Holidays package tour is offered to customers for this unique experience.


On 14 May 2010, THAI will hold a thank you reception at Royal Paragon Hall, Siam Paragon, for the Company’s loyal customers from various sectors who have used its services for the past 50 years. During this event, the Company will hold a special concert to thank its customers, passengers, Royal Orchid Plus members, representatives from the public and private sectors, with THAI staff performing on stage with professional artists.



Marking THAI’s 50 years of operation, the Company is in the process of publishing two books: “Smooth as Silk, the History of THAI” and “Visions of THAI – 50 Golden Years”. “Smooth as Silk, the History of THAI” is a special commemorative book that will be available to the public in July 2010 that chronicles THAI’s history from its founding through to present, featuring interviews with former members of Management and staff. “Visions of THAI – 50 Golden Years” is a special anniversary publication that will be released on 1 May 2010 that comprises the Company’s history and Royal flights, the concept of “THAI Service from the Heart” with stories about THAI hospitality, personal anecdotal memories from former THAI executives and staff, and future plans and policies.


The Company will hold a THAI 50 th Anniversary Exhibition, during 7-14 May 2010 at CentralWorld, featuring a showcase of THAI history from past to present and employing the use of new multimedia 4D technology. An “Airline Fair” will also be organized, offering customers special air fares and promotional travel packages from various airlines that may be purchased only at the exhibition air fare for a limited time.

In August 2010, THAI will organize a two-day Corporate Conference focusing on the Company’s future growth that will be attended by approximately 300 participants from the airline industry all over the world. His Excellency Abhisit Vejjajiva, Prime Minister of Thailand, will present the inaugural address as the keynote speaker. Guest speakers who are leaders in their profession will make presentations about topics such as managing Asia’s transformation, multi-faceted air travel services, and trends for growth in the aviation industry. THAI’s Board of Directors, Management, General Managers, Station Managers, and Accounting Managers from its offices worldwide will be in attendance, including the participation of Star Alliance GmbH’s Chief Executive Officer and management, as well as locally based and international media.



THAI, in cooperation with Thailand Post Co. Ltd., will issue Commemorative Postage Stamps marking the Company’s 50 th Anniversary. A total of 200,000 first issue stamp sets will be released for sale to the general public on the anniversary of THAI’s 50 th year establishment on 1 May 2010.


During the Company’s anniversary, THAI’s IT Sparkling project will allow customers to check international and domestic flight schedules and enables booking confirmation through all smartphones , making customers’ travel experience more convenient and accessible with flight-related information directly available. This project is an extension of THAI’s Cabin Attendant Pre-Flight Study and Briefing System that won an Asia Pacific ICT Award 2009 (APICTA) under the Tourism and Hospitality Category in Australia and helps crew members prepare themselves prior to flight departure.


THAI has three Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) projects underway during its 50 th Anniversary. The Pilot Doctors and Air Hostess Nurses Project is one of the Company’s CSR projects whereby pilots who are certified physicians, air hostesses who are registered nurses, along with the Company’s physicians, and volunteers cooperate to form a mobile medical unit to provide medical care at the THAI Border Patrol Police School in Sakaew, on 20 March 2010. Another CSR project, the Wheelchair Transport for Donation Project was initiated by the Company’s cabin crew to help disabled people in Thailand. Used wheelchairs were gathered, repaired, and cleaned to be in good condition by student volunteers in participating schools in Japan, then transported from communities in Osaka and Nara, Japan, on THAI Cargo in order to be donated to disabled people in Thailand. The Rak Khun Tao Fah Hospital Room Project is a CSR project where the Company helps to hospital rooms. These hospital rooms will be named “Rak Khun Tao Fah” or “Love You Sky High” after THAI’s slogan and will be available for patient use at various hospitals in Bangkok and provincial destinations that THAI serves.

...

[napoleon]

THAI to lease three aircraft Talks in progress with Air India for three more

Bangkokpost Published: 22/03/2010


Thai Airways International has agreed to lease three long-haul wide-body jets from Jet Airways and is negotiating for three more of a similar type from Air India.

The Thai flag carrier will pay slightly more than US$1 million a month for each of three Boeing 777-300ERs to the Mumbai-based airline under a three-year lease.

THAI is also in talks to lease another three B777-300ERs from Air India, India's largest carrier, for three years with a two-year extension option, said Pruet Boobphakam, executive vice-president for commercial affairs.

The six aircraft are meant to address the shortfall in capacity resulting from a series of problems including the delay in the delivery of new jetliners to THAI's fleet and frequent non-scheduled maintenance of its older aircraft.

THAI decided to lease to serve growing demand for its European routes.

Delivery of five new A330-300s, which were supposed to be flying now, was delayed indefinitely because of the Japanese aircraft seatmaker Koito Industries' failure to install seats in the economy section of the aircraft.

The Yokohama-based company has been unable to get the seats certified for safety, prompting THAI to cancel the contract with Koito and seek a new seat supplier.

Mr Pruet said the leased jets were about three years old and were due to enter THAI's service in June.

The planes have eight seats in first class, 30 in business and 274 in economy. The first-class section features enclosed suites with flat-bed seats, a feature THAI lacks but wants to make a standard offering on its long-haul aircraft.

As of January, Jet owned 10 of the jets it is loaning to THAI, which can fly 14,685 kilometres non-stop. It has 89 different aircraft in service.

Air India indicated it could make three new B777-300ERs now in final production at Boeing's US facilities available to THAI in October. But these only offer four first-class seats and lack the enclosure that Jet's planes feature.

As THAI is looking to standardise its offerings for marketing purposes, these planes are making THAI hesitate.

Air India's planes have 35 seats in business class and 303 in economy. It has nine B777-300ERs in service with six ordered. It operates 35 jets.

[napoleon]

THAI to keep Bangkok-Khon Kaen route

Bangkokpost Published: 23/03/2010 at 12:00 AM


Thai Airways International (THAI) yesterday denied that it would drop its service from Bangkok to Khon Kaen and let its budget affiliate Nok Airlines take over the route.

Both THAI executive vice-president Chokchai Panyayong and Nok chief executive Patee Sarasin have separately said they are perplexed by the outcry from local business, tourism and educational bodies about the possibility of this change.

"We really have no plan to stop flying to Khon Kaen," said Mr Chokchai. "Why should we? The route is making money."

Separately, Mr Patee said Nok has never harboured the idea of flying to Khon Kaen in place of THAI.

"We simply don't have enough aircraft capacity to do so. Even if we did, THAI would not let us because the route has been profitable for them," he told the Bangkok Post.

The two executives said they did not understand why Khon Kaen bodies such as the local chapters of the Federation of Thai Industries and the Thai Bankers Association as well as Khon Kaen University were responding to inaccurate reports.

These groups have assumed THAI would drop the Bangkok-Khon Kaen route and let Nok take over as it did on March 1 for three loss-making domestic routes: Bangkok-Phitsanulok, Chiang Mai-Mae Hong Son and Bangkok-Ubon Ratchathani.

Under political pressure, THAI continues to offer one daily flight on the Bangkok-Ubon Ratchathani route, allowing its sister carrier Nok Airlines to run two other daily services.

Over the last five years, THAI has lost an average of 86.3 million baht a year on operating its Bangkok-Phitsanulok services, 74.9 million baht a year on Bangkok-Ubon Ratchathani and 49.9 million baht a year on Chiang Mai-Mae Hong Son.

Local bodies opposed to Nok running the Khon Kaen route have accused the budget carrier of unreliability, including flight delays and cancellations.

Mr Patee said this criticism is unjustified. "For instance, our on-time performance is something like 94%. Come on, we're not that bad," he said.

Meanwhile, Nok will add a third daily flight on the Bangkok-Ubon Ratchathani route from April 1 to meet higher travel demand.

[napoleon]

Nok considers Phrae, Roi Et

Bangkokpost Published: 24/03/2010


Nok Airlines, the budget carrier affiliate of Thai Airways International, is eyeing Phrae and Roi Et to grow its secondary domestic route network.

The two proposed routes, from Nok's hub at Bangkok's Don Mueang Airport, could open next year.

The launch will require two additional ATR-72 turboprops, which would be sought abroad, to join two similar aircraft leased from THAI.

"We are exploring the opportunities to fly to Phrae and Roi Et as people there are very keen to see their provinces being connected again by air," said Nok chief executive Patee Sarasin.

Roi Et was last served by PB Air, the private airline founded by Boon Rawd Brewery baron Piya Bhirom-Bhakdi.

The airline's closing in November ended flights to Lampang, Mae Sot, Nan, Nakhon Phanom, Sakon Nakhon, Buri Ram and Roi Et.

While some PB Air routes have since been covered by Nok and Bangkok Airways, there are still no flights from Bangkok to Mae Sot and Nan.

Nok has taken on three PB Air routes - from Don Mueang to Sakon Nakhon, Nakhon Phanom and Buri Ram - using ATR-72s leased from THAI.Bangkok Airways began to cover Lampang, which was once served by PB Air, by extending its route from Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport to Sukhothai from last month. The service to Lampang is operated by 70-seat ATR-72 aircraft.

Nok is also using two ATR-72 planes leased from THAI on the Chiang Mai-Mae Hong Son route, which it took over from the flag carrier this month.

The Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) has been encouraging existing airlines, and newly licensed carriers like Nakhon Chiangmai Air and Legacy Air, to re-establish air links with several provinces following the demise of PB Air.

Nok operates more than 45 domestic flights a day, mostly on domestic trunk routes including Chiang Mai and Phuket with five B737-400 jets.

Meanwhile, Mr Patee reported better-than-expected results for Nok's operations so far this year, with a net profit of 54 million baht in January and 43 million baht in February. A profit of 52 million baht is expected for this month.

Airlines with domestic flights are benefiting from the political protests in Bangkok, with residents flying from the capital to the provinces whenever the opportunity arises, he said.

Nok expects its net profit for 2010 to beat last year's 334 million baht.

[napoleon]

Air Berlin cuts its flights to Thailand

Bangkokpost Published: 31/03/2010 at 12:00 AM


Air Berlin, Germany's second largest airline, is to cut back the capacity for flights between Thailand and Germany by nearly 40% starting on May 2 mainly in response to low-season demand.

The low-fare carrier will slash frequencies to eight flights a week from 13 flights currently, with the suspension of two routes in the May-October period.

Bangkok-Munich and Phuket-Berlin will be suspended, while Bangkok-Dusseldorf, Bangkok-Berlin and Phuket-Munich routes will remain on the summer traffic schedules.

The airline will continue to use Airbus A330-200 wide-body jets, with 279 seats in economy class and 24 in business, for the Thailand-Germany routes.

Air Berlin executives in Bangkok said the cutback was pre-planned for slow summer demand and had little to do with Thailand's current political turmoil.

The airline said that so far, it had experienced no effects from the red-shirt demonstration and continued to fill 90-100% of its seats.

"Our booking numbers are still very good, which can be seen in our average load factor of 98% for flights out of Bangkok. There are no requests for cancellations," said Stefan Magiera, general manager Thailand for Air Berlin PLC & Co Luftverkehrs KG.

"Therefore, we have not noticed any major negative consequences yet."

The assurances came despite an EU travel advisory for its citizens to exercise caution when travel to Thailand.

Air Berlin's flights out of Bangkok are fully booked during Songkran as many Thais holiday in Europe, said Rungnapa Leechaianan, head of marketing and sales at Air Berlin's Bangkok office.

A promotion until April 30 with all-inclusive round trips to Germany for about 25,000 baht and flights to other European cities in Air Berlin's network at about 28,000 baht should ensure high cabin factor in May and June.

The agreement by Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and the red-shirt leaders to come to the negotiation table to find a solution to the political impasse should improve sentiment among foreign travellers, she said.

Under the new flight schedules, Air Berlin offers four flights a week between Bangkok and Dusseldorf, three flights on Bangkok-Berlin and one flight a week on Phuket-Munich.

Air Berlin has had a code-share deal with Bangkok Airways which allows the German airline to feed its passengers from many German cities to the domestic network operated by the Thai privately owned carrier.

Last year, Air Berlin, Europe's fifth largest airline, carried 27.9 million passengers. It has one of the industry's youngest fleets, averaging 5.5 years.

[napoleon]

Thai Air plans to launch services within 3 months

Bangkokpost Published: 2/04/2010 at 12:00 AM


Thailand could see a new carrier called Thai Air get off the ground in the next three months.

The airline is being promoted by Thai Airlines Holdings Co (TAH), registered by some shareholders of Orient Thai Airlines, which also controls the budget carrier One-Two-Go.

Details of the proposed airline remain sketchy, though Wuthichai Singhamanee, director-general of the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA), confirmed the company's existence.

He said DCA extended an airline operating licence to TAH a year ago for it to operate domestic and regional routes under the name "Asia Budget".

The DCA chief said TAH's management and shareholders were undergoing some changes - a statement confirmed by an industry source.

The source said TAH had yet to settle details relating to the proposed airline's shareholders and its business plan.

The company was registered with 250 million baht capital in January 2008, according to official records.

Mr Wuthichai said he had yet to check the validity of the licence, which will be revoked if operations do not start within a year of its issuance.

The DCA also needs to ensure that TAH does not alter the airline's name or use a name too similar to another carrier - such as Thai Airways International, often called Thai Air - without prior official approval, he said.

In recent years, the DCA has been strict with airlines that fail to start operations within the set timeframe from being granted operating licences.

The authorities have also raised the required registered capital for a startup airline several times to 200 million baht, with a minimum Thai holding of 51%, to deter less serious investors.

TAH began recruiting cockpit and cabin crew this week. It has advertised for pilots who can fly Boeing 737s, single-aisle jets capable of carrying about 130 passengers.

This indicates that Thai Air intends to fly routes with a maximum range of four hours - domestic routes or flights to neighbouring countries.

In the classified ad, Thai Air described itself as "a brand new airline with a vision for the highest safety standards, while reflecting a sense of Thai hospitality through its customer service". It said it expects to officially launch at mid-year.

Thai Air may be promoted as a sub-brand under the umbrella of the Orient Thai Group, pooling resources with Orient Thai and One-Two-Go.

Orient Thai operates just one route - Bangkok-Hong Kong - on a daily basis, as well as charter services.

One-Two-Go, is still recovering from the damage to its image from a 2007 crash in Phuket that killed 89 people.Both carriers are effectively run by their founder, Udom Tantiprasongchai.

[napoleon]

Thai Airways plots recovery from cancellations

THE NATION Published on April 9, 2010


Thai Airways International (THAI) is working with luxury malls Siam Paragon and CentralWorld to prepare campaigns to bring customers back to the Rajprasong area, which is still occupied by red-shirt protesters.

"The airline and the two shopping malls are planning new promotions, which are expected in May or early June, aimed at encouraging customers and increasing spending after the end of the red-shirt rallies," said Pruet Boobphakam, a THAI executive vice president.

He said passengers travelling with THAI would be able to use their boarding pass to receive discounts on many items at both shopping malls.

Pruet said the airline received average forward bookings for April at 40-50 per cent, lower than the 50-60 per cent recorded in April last year.

Key falling markets are Japan, South Korea, China, Australia, India, Hong Kong and Singapore. The number of bookings from Europe has also fallen, but that was partly in response to the arrival of the normal low season.

He said the number of bookings from Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong for weekend visits had also plunged as the red-shirt demonstrations spread in Bangkok.


"Bookings from overseas during a-re also lowered than expected," Pruet said.

To keep passengers, THAI is encouraging overseas customers to travel to other destinations, such as Bali in Indonesia and other countries in Southeast Asia.

Tassapon Bijleveld, chief executive officer of Thai AirAsia, said some passengers who planned to travel to Bangkok during the Songkran festival had asked the airline to route them to other destinations or to change their travel dates to avoid violence.

But the airline said it had not seen any cancellations so far. It expects an 82-per-cent load factor during the festival.


Yongyut Lujintanon, marketing manager for Thailand and Burma at Cathay Pacific, said it had received cancellations of 5-10 per cent of advance bookings.

Tourism and Sports Minister Chumpol Silapa-archa said the tourism sector had not been not been damaged despite the demonstrations, and total arrivals were up compared to the same period last year.

[gnzlnho]

Some thai people looks like Bolivians... wonder why

[napoleon]

THAI cancels flights to and from Europe

Bangkokpost Published: 17/04/2010 at 12:00 AM


Thai Airways International has cancelled 10 flights to and from Europe.

Flights to London (TG 910), Paris (TG 930), Copenhagen (TG 950), Oslo (TG 954) and Stockholm (TG 960) were cancelled last night.

Also suspended were five return flights: London (TG 911), Paris (TG 931), Copenhagen (TG 951), Oslo (TG 955) and Stockholm (TG 961), the airline's press release said.

The return flights normally arrive back in Bangkok in the early morning.

The flight cancellations were caused by the volcanic eruption under the Eyjafjallajokull glacier in Iceland which forced the closure of airspace in Scandinavia and Northern Europe.

[napoleon]

New draw in Bangkok for the private jet set Mjets taps niche executive market

Bangkokpost Published: 19/04/2010 at 12:00 AM


Thailand's first private jet terminal is up and running, a move expected to turn Bangkok into a major transit point for corporate and wealthy travellers in the region.


The 50-million-baht terminal, complete with a spacious luxury lounge, two hangars and a full range of facilities and services for private aircraft, was built at Bangkok's Don Mueang International Airport by Mjets Ltd.

Mjets, a private company partly owned by Minor Group founder Bill Heinecke, won the bid called by Airports of Thailand Plc (AoT) to build and operate the facility under a five-year concession.

The company topped Royal Airport Services, the only other bidder, by offering AoT 35.7 million baht, more than RAS's proposal of 26 million.

The Mjets facility, which is situated at the former VIP terminal at Don Mueang, is the first that AoT has allowed, though it has plans for the private sector to do the same at Phuket and Chiang Mai International Airports to attract luxury traffic.

Jaiyavat Navaraj, managing director of Mjets, said the venture did not offer a quick return on investment but offered an exclusive facility previously lacking in Thailand.

The company sees the terminal as a cornerstone if Thailand is to become a hub for international executive and private jets similar to Singapore's Changi Airport and Kuala Lumpur's Subang International Airport, he noted.


There is increasing private jet traffic in the region and many stop elsewhere for fuel or other services because Bangkok lacked a facility, he said.

The rising number of private jet owners and charters in China and India, spurred by the two countries' growing wealth and business travel, could be a boon for Thailand because their air routes criss-cross through the kingdom.

But the company does not expect a sudden surge in private jet stopovers in Bangkok as it will take time for the facility to become known internationally.

Since its soft opening on March 16, Mjets, manned by 40 personnel including three expats, has handled more than 50 flights. This year, it expects to cater to 45 executive flights a month, up from a monthly average of 25 flights estimated last year. The company aims to expand its business by 10% annually.

The Don Mueang facility is capable of handling 50 flights a month from jets the size of a Gulfstream G550 ultra-long range business jet (maximum take-off weight of 45 tonnes).

Mjets expects its balance sheet will be in the red for its first two years of operation before hopefully moving to the black the third year.

Mr Jaiyavat said the Mjets facility had cost advantages over players in the region, with the service charge 40% less than Hong Kong. It also offers parallel services through its terminal and chartering of the Cessna Citation X, Cessna Citation CJ3 and Piper Malibu Mirage propellers.

These aircraft were previously offered by Minor Aviation, the company that evolved into Mjets.

[napoleon]

THAI resumes Europe routes

Bangkokpost Published: 22/04/2010 at 12:00 AM


Thai Airways International has resumed nearly all of its flights to Europe as airspace closed by the volcanic eruption in Iceland gradually begins to reopen.

The carrier will add extra flights to help about 30,000 stranded passengers, including about 16,000 in Thailand, to return home.

THAI was offering services to 13 European cities with the exception of Munich late yesterday afternoon.

THAI has been scrambling to get landing and take-off slots at the airports that are now open as other international airlines battle to help clear a massive backlog of passengers.

"It may take days or even weeks to clear the backlog of passengers," Surapol Isarakura na Ayutthaya, head of crisis management at THAI, said yesterday.

International aviation experts also said the backlog of stranded passengers could take airlines weeks to resolve following the eruption of Iceland's Eyjafjallajokull volcano last week.

Ash drifting over Europe has forced the cancellation of more than 95,000 flights since April 15, affecting 1.2 million passengers a day and costing airlines more than 60 billion baht in lost revenue until Tuesday, the International Air Transport Association estimates.

THAI president Piyasvasti Amranand said the disruption to European flights was costing THAI more than 100 million baht a day.

But the resumed THAI flights to Britain might not be through London's Heathrow airport, but through other British airports such as Manchester, Mr Surapol said.

[napoleon]

THAI ready to submit fund-raising plan

By THE NATION Published on April 27, 2010


Thai Airways International is completing its financial plan for review by the Finance Ministry before seeking more capital.

"The airline has been retrenching, particularly through the reduction of privileges to directors and their families, which cost it about Bt700 million a year," Supa Piyajitti, director-general of the State Enterprise Policy Office, said yesterday.

However, THAI must show further how to wean itself from the ministry's loan guarantees, keep cutting non-fuel expenses and increase revenue.

THAI has reduced the domestic and international ticket perks for directors and the overseas accommodation budgets of high-ranking officials.


THAI plans to raise Bt20 billion, mainly to refinance debts. It recently also won Cabinet approval for Bt50 billion to fund fleet expansion and operations improvement.

Kulit Sombatsiri, deputy director-general, said SEPO is considering the fund-raising options, which could include the borrowing of Bt30 billion.

"The timing is not yet fixed. But it is expected that the fund-raising plan will be submitted to the Finance Ministry by June so that it could be completed by the third quarter," he said.


Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij has expressed concern over the huge sum that THAI wants to raise. He said his ministry stands ready to inject more capital into THAI, but only when the national carrier can show how the ministry will get a return on its investment.

To reduce the government's financial burden, the ministry considered reducing its holding of 50.1 per cent in THAI. That would take time, though, as THAI's aircraft procurement financing so far has required the ministry's guarantee. That burden must be tackled before further privatisation.

THAI's last recapitalisation was in 2000. At present, it is capitalised at Bt17 billion. With Bt201 billion of debt against shareholders' equity of Bt48 billion, its debt-to-equity ratio is 4.4 times.

[napoleon]

THAI returns to normal schedules for EU flights

By The Nation 29/04/2010


Throughout April 18-28, Thai Airways International flew 8,656 stranded passengers to their destinations, of which 6,216 passengers were flown on the 28 supplementary flights while 2,440 flew on regular scheduled flights.

Of the 28 supplementary flights, 13 were outbound and 15 were inbound.

THAI resumed the flight with the opening of European airspace by Eurocontrol starting from April 18. During April 16-23, there were 115 flight cancellations, 59 outbound and 56 inbound. .

President Piyasvasti Amranand said that from today THAI will now operate only regular scheduled flights.

[napoleon]

PTTAR studying jet biofuel potential

Bangkokpost Published: 30/04/2010 at 12:00 AM


PTTAR studying green jet fuelPTT Aromatics and Refining Plc, the country's largest aromatics maker, is studying the potential of producing biofuel for aviation, says president and CEO Chainoi Puenkosoom.

''We are currently in the process of working with the Energy Ministry on a biofuel project, which will concentrate on green jet fuel,'' said Mr Chainoi.

In the next two years, airplanes that fly into Europe will need to use biofuel or pay for carbon credits. Producing aviation biofuel would put Thailand in a leading position in the global green fuel industry.

''Currently Europe has invested in Singapore to work on carrying out this project, and if our country does not have it, airplanes probably won't head to Thailand,'' said Mr Chainoi.

Green jet fuel will use palm oil as the raw material and hydrogen in processing.

''We will have to look at whether it really produces benefits, whether it will deplete food stocks, as well as the technology and the amount of raw material that is needed,'' said Mr Chainoi.

PTTAR, which also runs an oil refinery, said its gross integrated margin (GIM) for aromatics, refined oil and other petrochemical products in the first quarter has been larger than expected.

''We did not expect so many shutdowns [of refineries across the globe]. If the world economy sees a real recovery, we should see better figures,'' said Mr Chainoi.

Many older refineries in the United States and Europe have closed because they are no longer cost-competitive.

As a result, PTTAR's GIM excluding stock gains and hedging costs, was US$6.70 a barrel, up from $2.29 in the same period last year.

Market demand for benzene and paraxylene (PX), the two main products of PTTAR's aromatics business, has been healthy, led by China.

''Many countries spent money to stimulate their economies, especially China, which helped its textile industry. This has increased demand for PX since the first quarter of 2009,'' said Mr Chainoi.

Benzene demand has been rising since the fourth quarter of last year, due to an increase in car sales by 80% per month, and also the lack of supply due to the closure of refineries.

The company's spread margin from condensate to PX was $418 per tonne in the first quarter this year, compared with $377 in the previous quarter. The spread margin from condensate to benzene averaged $338, compared with $232 late last year.

Net profit in the first quarter was 2.35 billion baht, up 26% from 1.74 billion a year earlier. Rising global demand for oil will help widen the company's refining margins in the second quarter, he said, without giving details.

PTTAR is also considering increasing production capacity of downstream products such as phenol and benzene to serve growing market demand.

Next month, parent PTT is expected to announce a consolidation plan for its petrochemical and refinery businesses, expected to be complete in six months.

[ddes]

I'd like to see someone start an airline called Air Siam or Siam Airlines and see if they'd dare compromise safety regulations.

[napoleon]

Originally Posted by ddes

I'd like to see someone start an airline called Air Siam or Siam Airlines and see if they'd dare compromise safety regulations.

I don't know.

[napoleon]

Air Berlin offers incentives

Bangkokpost Published: 4/05/2010


Air Berlin is offering financial incentives to encourage travel agents in Thailand to increase ticket sales in a bid to counter expected sluggish travel demand.

The airline, Germany's second-largest after Lufthansa, now offers a cash voucher for every round-trip ticket sold by an authorised travel agent this month. The incentive is in addition to the regular commission.

Carriers with operations in Thailand, such as Air Berlin, are providing special deals for sales agents and passengers. The measures are aimed at countering the seasonal fall in demand, which is being exacerbated by the Kingdom's escalating political turmoil.

The political upheaval is having an increasingly negative impact on tourism. More than 47 countries have advised their citizens against non-essential travel to Thailand, while 10 others asked their nationals not to visit the Kingdom at all.

Air Berlin's Bangkok-based executives yesterday described the voucher provision as a "remarkable incentive that is unmatched in the market".

Any Air Berlin ticket sold in Thailand to a wide variety of destinations within Germany and throughout Europe will be awarded with a voucher.

The incentive for agents covers tickets sales made within this month.

Air Berlin has also extended its "Summer Special" promotion, which offers round-trip economy-class tickets from Bangkok to Europe starting from only 15,500 baht (excluding taxes and fuel surcharge), to the end of this month.

Air Berlin executives said the promotion enabled the airline to nearly fill all of its seats through Bangkok last month.

Beginning this month, the carrier has cut capacity for flights between Thailand and Germany by nearly 40%.

[napoleon]

Bangkok Air thinking locally

Bangkokpost Published: 10/05/2010 at 12:00 AM


Bangkok Airways is joining forces with local hoteliers and tourism bodies in campaigns to attract local tourists to Thai beach resorts to offset a plunge in foreign visitors.

The campaigns, offering attractive discounts, cover three resorts served by the privately owned carrier - Samui, Phuket and Trat.

The drive focuses on Samui, the airline's second hub and particularly popular among European holidaymakers, as international arrivals have plummeted after many countries advised their citizens against visiting Thailand due to its political turmoil.

Bangkok Airways' passenger numbers were down by 30% last month and by 50% so far this month, with the loss set to worsen unless the political situation is resolved soon, said vice-president Nandhika Varavarn.

Because of its heavy reliance on international tourists, who constitute 80% of its passengers, Bangkok Airways is feeling a heavy impact from the traffic downturn.

To lessen this dependence on overseas demand, the airline now wants to reduce the proportion of foreign passengers to 70%, while raising the percentage of Thais and expats to 30%.

Details of the marketing drive are expected to be finalised early this week for launch on May 15, but M.L. Nandhika said they would offer "great value."

Different tiers in the package will suit various categories of passenger, be it a two-star hotel or a five-star venue.

"Basically, anyone who buys a Bangkok Air ticket (to those three destinations) will get a hotel room, transfer service and even breakfast for free," she said.

The campaigns will run to mid-July, helping the airline, as well as hospitality and tourism companies, stay afloat during the low season.

In another marketing drive, Bangkok Airways has tied up Advanced Info Service (AIS) to offer air ticket discounts and other privileges to AIS subscribers. Other services include VIP check-in and the use of the VIP lounge for selected AIS customers until the end of the year.

The two partners did not specify how many of AIS's 29 million customers would be eligible for the promotions.

[napoleon]

Tajikistan flights signal new interest

Bangkokpost Published: 10/05/2010 at 12:00 AM


Tajikistan plans to start direct flights to Bangkok and increase economic development co-operation with Thailand to enhance relations.

Talks took place recently between Panich Vikitsreth, the Thai vice-minister for foreign affairs, and Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon, Foreign Minister Hamrokhon Zarifi, and Economic Development and Trade Minister Farrukh Hamraliev, when they made a brief stop-over at Suvarnabhumi Airport.

Mr Panich said that Tajikistan, a landlocked country in Central Asia, sent him an aviation agreement to open the Bangkok-Dushanbe air route for Somon Air, the national carrier of Tajikistan.

Thailand's Department of Aviation is reviewing the request for approval. Thailand and Tajikistan have had an air services agreement since 1995.

In 2005, there were only 211 Tajikistan tourists to Thailand. The number rose only marginally the following year due to the difficulty of travel.

Tajikistan places high importance on Thailand, which it views as the centre of Asean, Mr Panich said.

"We have discussed bilateral trade and investment co-operation and agreed that existing pacts on trade, investment and tourism should be used to expand co-operation more concretely," he said.

Both countries are looking forward to signing two financial co-operation pacts: the Convention for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Tax Income.

Tajikistan also plans to send businessmen to Thailand soon, as the two countries could co-operate on hydropower technology, a field in which Tajikistan is famous.

Mr Panich said there had not been much trade between the two countries because Tajikistan is improving its economic structure.

Thailand and Tajikistan established a trade relationship in 1993, but volume has been very low due to inconvenient transport and a lack of direct flights. The trade volume last year was only 51 million baht.

Tajikistan imports electrical and petroleum products, aluminium oxide, machinery and food equipment from Thailand, while exporting aluminum, fruits, textiles, cotton and cooking oil to the kingdom.

Neither nation has set up an embassy in the other's country yet.