TG tightens timetable

BANGKOK Thai Airways International has made substantial adjustments to its winter 2015/2016 international schedule for both THAI and THAI Smile services.
The changes were announced by the airline’s president, Charamporn Jotikasthira, following board approval at its 20 July meeting.
The revised timetable identifies increases in services to key destinations in Europe, effective 25 October.
On the Bangkok-London route flights increase from seven a week to 14 flights a week (twice daily using a combination of Airbus 380-800 and Boeing 777-300ER aircraft.
inside no 6The Bangkok-Frankfurt route also increases from one daily to twice daily, again using Airbus 380-800 and Boeing 777-300ER aircraft.
Services to both these destinations were double daily until 2014, when they were reduced to single daily to stem losses.
Some routes will be suspended or flights reduced this October.
The suspensions include the loss-ridden Bangkok-Seoul-Los Angeles route (four services a week). The Bangkok-Rome route at four flights weekly has also been cut from the timetable.
Flights on the Bangkok-Kolkata route will be reduced from 10 flights per week to a single daily service.
The transfer of regional routes to THAI Smile continues in the winter timetable. The airline operates with smaller aircraft and with a lower-cost per flown kilometre compared to its parent company THAI.
THAI Smile will take over services from Bangkok to Hyderabad, Luang Prabang and Changsha once THAI Smile receives permission from the respective aviation authorities to operate to these destinations.
THAI Smile briefly operated a service to Luang Prabang in 2013, but was forced to withdraw. It is understood a reference to designated carriers, written into the aviation pact between Lao PDR and Thailand, scuttled the service.
The airline’s president noted in the announcement that flight adjustments were part of the company’s transformation plan to reduce losses by cutting operating costs, improving sales structure and generating higher revenue.
The airline confirmed it was flying at a loss, or lacked potential to generate an acceptable profit on 50 of its routes.
According to the initial transformation plan the airline had to reduce production by around 10%. The present changes in the winter timetable represent only a 5% reduction, due to the fact that some routes identified for cuts, or suspension, earlier, are now in recovery mode.
The airline claimed it based its decision to cut services on the performance monitored over the last 10 years, market environment and competition, potential for development and connecting passengers. The routes selected for suspension failed to meet any of the criteria.
THAI pledged to resume services on suspended routes once there were signs of recovery as was the case with the resumption of double daily services on Bangkok-London and Bangkok-Frankfurt routes.

sourced:ttrwekly.com