Postponed four times, the return of Thai Airways International to the European continent is proving difficult to achieve.
Thailand's national airline is mired in an economic crisis. catastrophic financial situation after seven years of losses over the last decade. Political intervention, a lack of strategy and a patchwork fleet of aircraft have brought what was once considered one of Asia's best airlines to its knees.
2020 saw the carrier's financial situation worsen, with losses of 1.5 billion dollars. It would be hard to believe otherwise, given that the Kingdom's borders have remained closed to the vast majority of travellers since the end of March.
Last September, Thai Airways International recorded 8,667 passengersa decrease of 99.4% compared with September 2019. Visit overall occupancy rate fell to 21,5%down 59 points on last year. On the few flights to Europe, the load factor was 38%.
A rehabilitation plan has certainly been put in place, but the carrier's exit strategy from the crisis is still awaited. The carrier's management has announced the departure of 5,000 employees, a pay cut in 2021 and the hope of selling 34 ageing aircraft.
The company has started to sell off its assets. The local press has reported the sale of First Class seats, uniforms and crockery. There is even a restaurant at the airline's head office, serving the same menus as on board.
A network that has become anaemic in Europe
On the network side, there are no plans to resume normal operations in the short term. A situation confirmed by its new winter schedule.
Only Bangkok-Hong Kong and Bangkok-Tokyo have several flights a week. Thai lands daily in Hong Kong and three times a week in Tokyo-Narita. The carrier also offers one flight per week to Manila, Osaka, Seoul, Sydney and Taipei. On the domestic network, Thai Airways International links Bangkok with Chiang Mai, Phuket, Nan and Krabi.
In Europe, Copenhagen, Frankfurt and London-Heathrow will have a weekly flight until the end of March.. Paris-CDG has temporarily disappeared from the airline's timetable until the end of March 2021. Before the pandemic, Thai Airways was Southeast Asia's biggest carrier to Europe. It served more than fifteen destinations.
Thai Airways International risks lose its status as a global carrier. And to leave room in South-East Asia for local competition (Singapore Airlines or Vietnam Airlines) and especially in the Gulf. Thai Airways International announced further losses of over 650 million dollars in the third quarter, Qatar Airways indicated that it would return to Phuket on 4 December. A pure coincidence...
