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THAI Announces Board Meeting Results 28 May 2003, Thai Airways International Public Company Limited held a Board of Directors’ Meeting, chaired by Mr. Thanong Bidaya,THAI’s Chairman, with the following results: 1. Pilots to
Engage in Jet Familiarization Training 2. Progress
on THAI’s Investment at Suvarnabhumi Airport Furthermore, the company is proceeding
with the migration plan and budgeting process in order to prepare for
the move of the operation center as well as train staff who will move
operations to the new Suvarnabhumi Airport. A committee will be appointed
to consider the effect on and welfare of employees concerned.
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| AAPA
HAILS LIFTING OF WHO TRAVEL ADVISORY
Mr Richard Stirland, the Director General of the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) today greeted announcement of the lifting of the WHO travel advisory for Hong Kong and Guangzhou as "fantastic news". "This is really wonderful, as it was not anticipated to happen so quickly. Now we can at least contemplate the beginning of a recovery of confidence in travel to these places, and residents will be able to resume overseas travel without the risk of inconvenience or suspicion," said Richard Stirland. He continued : |
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THAI Signs MOU with Vladivostok Air Thai Airways International Public Company Limited signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Vladivostok Air on May 15, 2003, in Vladivostok, Russia. The MOU was signed by Mr. Tasnai Sudasna na Ayudhaya, THAI’s Executive Vice President for Commercial, and Mr. Igor Bagelfer, Deputy General Director of Vladivostok Air, and was witnessed by Mr. Pichate Satirachaval, Deputy Minister of Transport. The MOU aims to help promote air travel between Thailand and Vladivostok, with the two airlines prepared to sign a bilateral interlineagreement regarding the transport of passengers and ticket sales. Mr. Satirachaval said, "This MOU
is a pioneering effort to promote travel between Russia's Far East to
Thailand. At present, there are between 8,000-10,000 Russian tourists
from Vladivostok travelling to Thailand. They stay an average of 1-2
weeks and have high spending power.Furthermore, since Russia is such
a vast country, with regional airlines flying to nearby destinations
like China, Korea, and Japan, I have Mr. Sudasna added, "This joint agreement between our two airlines will allow Russian travellers from the far eastern region of the country to travel more conveniently to Thailand all year round, simply by connecting to a THAI flight in Seoul or Busan in South Korea, while Thai tourists going to Vladivostok can do the same thing." "THAI is also in discussion with Dalavia Airways which is headquartered in Khabarovsk, 800 miles north of Vladivostok," he continued. "An agreement between THAI and these two Russian carriers will help increase the number of visitors from far eastern Russia to Thailand. At the same time, THAI will actively promote Vladivostok as a destination for Thai travellers to experience the famous Trans-Siberian railway, the world's longest railway at 9,288 kilometers stretching from Vladivostok to Moscow." |
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| SARS
: "WE ARE DETERMINED TO FIGHT BACK, BUT WHO CO-OPERATION IS ESSENTIAL",
says Mr Philip Wei, Chairman of the AAPA
The Chairman and Executive Committee members of the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) have expressed confidence in the recovery of the Asian airline industry, but added that the speed of the recovery depended to a large degree on the World Health Organization (WHO). The Executive Committee of the AAPA met on Monday, 19th May, under the Chairmanship of China Airlines' CEO, Mr Philip H.H. Wei. Committee members devoted a large part of the meeting to discussion of the SARS crisis and the unprecedented impact it has had on the Asian airline industry. Committee members most affected, in addition to China Airlines, include Cathay Pacific Airways and Singapore Airlines, but all members have been hit to a greater or lesser degree. The Committee agreed that the first priority was to establish firmly public acceptance that travel by air did not increase the risk of contracting SARS. They welcomed various statements by WHO officials on this subject, but felt that more needed to be done to get the message across. Only the WHO had the level of authority necessary to change public opinion. Recently adopted common screening policies by the airport authorities of ASEAN + 3 would help. Secondly, the committee felt that WHO should give equal attention to putting the scale of the outbreak into perspective and to emphasizing the low risk of infection. "What we are combating is fear and misconceptions, not a runaway epidemic," said Mr Wei, the Chairman. The airlines were in full agreement that at the right moment it would be essential to launch a massive campaign designed to bring tourists and businessmen back to Asia and to remind people that travel and tourism were an integral element of modern life, for which there was no substitute. However, they cautioned that timing was crucial and that co-ordination between airlines and regional tourism authorities was essential for a successful campaign. Mr Wei, on behalf of the committee, said
: Finally, the Executive Committee discussed the assistance provided to the airlines by service providers, aircraft manufacturers and facilities such as airports; some had been helpful in providing concessions, others not. Committee members were appreciative of the reduction in landing fees at a number of airports in the region, but disappointed and puzzled by the failure of Hong Kong to make any meaningful concessions. They strongly contested the view that air services to airports was a totally inelastic market, particularly for short haul and regional services. In the current situation even a small reduction in costs might make the difference between loss and break-even, between operation and cancellation. The Chairman, Mr Philip Wei, summed up
the meeting by saying : "Asia has had a uniquely successful
airline industry for many years. It would be a tragedy if a short term
crisis of this nature destroyed that success simply because of public
panic and lack of co-operation. AAPA member airlines are determined
not to let that happen." |
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| AAPA
APPLAUDS ASEAN + 3 RESOLUTION ON SARS
In a statement issued today (19th May), Richard Stirland, the Director General of the Association Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) welcomed and applauded the outcome of the meeting held by ASEAN + 3 airport authorities on 15th - 16th May. "The meeting was exactly what was needed for a concerted effort to establish a common set of effective and practical measures to prevent passengers showing SARS like symptoms from either boarding an aircraft or leaving an airport on arrival in another country, " said Stirland. The ASEAN + 3 authorities issued a Joint Resolution at the conclusion of their meeting which noted that the aviation industry is one of the sectors most affected by SARS, and one which can and must play a significant role in controlling its spread. Therefore, the authorities agreed to adopt health declaration cards for all departing and arriving passengers and for temperature screening at both ends of any route which touches SARS affected areas. Most importantly, the ASEAN + 3 authorities jointly resolved that all passengers suspected of having SARS should not be denied entry into the country of arrival, but rather should be provided with appropriate medical treatment in that country. Richard Stirland concluded : **About the AAPA** The 17 members comprises Air New Zealand, All Nippon Airways, Asiana Airlines, Cathay Pacific Airways, China Airlines, Dragonair, EVA Air, Garuda Indonesia, Japan Airlines, Korean Air, Malaysia Airlines, Philippine Airlines, Qantas Airways, Royal Brunei Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways International and Vietnam Airlines. For further information, please contact : Ms Usha Veeriah |
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THAI Announces Second Quarter Results & Six Month Financial Results for Fiscal Year 2002/2003 Thai Airways International Public Company Limited announced its second quarter results (January to March 2003) for Fiscal Year 2002/2003,whereby the net profit during the second quarter amounted to THB 4,787 million baht. Mr. Kanok Abhiradee, THAI’s President,
announced that THAI’s operating result for the second quarter of
Fiscal Year 2002/2003 amounted to a total revenue of THB 36,677 million
baht and an operating profit of THB 7,371 million baht, which increased
THB 744 million baht or 11.22 percent when compared to the same period
last year. THAI earned a net profit of THB 4,787 million baht,
which was higher than the same In addition, Mr. Abhiradee said that
during the airline’s six months operations in Fiscal Year 2002/2003
(October 2002 to March 2003), THAI announced total revenue of THB 73,254
million baht, an increase of THB 10,134 million baht or 16.1 percent
when compared to the same period last year. Increase in total
revenue during the six months of operations was a result of revenues
from transportation, which increased |
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| THAI
Clarifies False Alarm in Zurich
The Public Relations Office of Thai Airways International today announced that it was a false alarm when three of the passengers traveling on board THAI's flight TG970 bound for Zurich were reported to have shown symptoms similar SARS. The three passengers connected on to THAI's flight from Hong Kong. After landing, the three passengers were taken off the aircraft and checked in a nearby ambulance by medical staff, while other passengers and crew were taken into an isolated area for one and a half hour to wait for the result and to provide contact information. The initial results were negative and all passengers were allowed home, but as an extra precaution, the suspected passengers were taken to University hospital for further testing and confirmed by medical personnel that the result was negative. As a precautionary step THAI ordered additional cleaning of the aircraft prior to its next departure. THAI's Zurich airport staff and all authorities gave full cooperation to minimise inconvenience for passengers while maintaining stringent safety measures. THAI's flight TG970, operated by MD-11 aircraft, registration HS-TMD landed in Zurich today (12th May) at UTC 0500, carrying a total of 150 passengers and 18 crew members. The flight took off from Zurich according to the normal schedule. |
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THAI
Invites the World to Experience Thailand Tourism: 7 May 2003 at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.), Mr. Kanok Abhiradee, Thai Airways International’s President, Mr.Tasnai Sudasna na Ayudhaya, THAI’s Executive Vice President for Commercial, and Mr. Tassna Wongrat, the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s Director for Marketing in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, jointly held a press conference encouraging international travelers to experience tourism in Thailand. In addition, clarification was made about the country Thailand and THAI’s stringent SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) preventive measures. The press conference also included a special tourism program and announcement of the Thai vision about the Arabian Travel Mart (ATM), which is being held in Dubai during 6-9 May 2003. Mr. Kanok Abhiradee, THAI’s President, said that the World Health Organization (WHO) had given its assurances that Thailand does not have any local transmissions of SARS, as evident from the ASEAN Summit on SARS that was recently held in Thailand on 29 April 2003 and was attended by ASEAN nations’ head of state. As a result of the summit, it was concluded that all ASEAN countries would join together in a cooperative effort in the public health battle against the SARS disease. The nation of Thailand and THAI has implemented indepth, stringent SARS preventive measures, boosting tourist confidence in traveling to Thailand. In addition, Mr. Tasnai Sudasna na Ayudhaya, THAI’s Executive Vice President for Commercial, said that the Middle East market, ranging from tourism and labor-intensive industries, is one that hold much promise for continual growth. As well, the forthcoming months of June and July are considered travel and tourism periods in the Middle East, which is why THAI extends an invitation for tourists to travel to and experience tourism in Thailand. THAI introduced international travelers attending the ATM to THAI’s special tour packages, those being various Royal Orchid Holidays packages such as golf and spas, air tickets, hotel reservations, transportation to and from the hotel and airport, and interesting tourist destinations in Thailand. It is anticipated that THAI’s booth
exhibition, introduction of tourist destinations in Thailand, and clarification
about the SARS situation in Thailand, will successfully aid in boosting
the Thai travel and tourism industry’s profitability that affects
airlines, tourism, and hotels. |
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