THAI Holds Annual General Shareholders' Meeting 2001 Bangkok, 20 December 2002, 13.30 hrs.  --  Thai Airways International Public Company Limited held its Annual General Shareholders' Meeting, chaired by Mr. Thanong Bidaya, THAI's Chairman, at the airline's Head Office on Vibhavadi Rangsit Road.  Participants included members of THAI's Board of Directors, the airline management, senior executives, and shareholders, and the following issues were discussed: 1. THAI's Financial Results 2001/2002 THAI achieved a total revenue of 129,510 million baht during financial year 2001/02 (October 2001-September 2002) and a net profit of 10,182 million baht. When compared to the same period last year, the net profit increased by 8,253 million baht or 427.84 percent.  Net profit was equivalent to 7.27 baht per share, which was 1.38 baht per share last year. 2. Distribution of  Profit and Dividend The Shareholders' Meeting approved the distribution of profit and dividend on the 1,400 million shares at 1.50 baht per share.  The payment of dividend will be made to shareholders with names registered in the shareholders' registration book on 3 January 2003 and is scheduled to take effect within 30 days after the Annual Shareholders' Meeting 2002. 3. Appointment of New Members of THAI's Board of Directors The Annual Shareholders' Meeting approved the appointment of new Board of Directors to replace the former board members who resigned according to terms of office and  elected  7 members as follows: 1. Mr. Srisook Chandrangsu Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transport and Communications 2. Mr. Somchainuk Engtrakul Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance 3. Mr. Chai-anan Samudavanija Director, Vajiravudh College 4. Mr. Chartsiri Sophonpanich President, Bangkok Bank Public Company Limited 5. ACM Kongsak Wantana Commander-in-Chief, Royal Thai Air Force 6. Mr. Thirachai Vudhidhama * Advisor to the Chairman of Transport Committee (Senator) 7. Asst. Prof. Dr. Thatchai Sumitr* President, Chulalongkorn University New Board of Directors are : 1.      Mr. Thanong Bidaya                      Chairman Economic Advisor to the Prime Minister 2.      Mr. Srisook Chandrangsu             Director Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transport and Communications 3.      Mr. Somchainuk Engtrakul             Director Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance 4.      Mr. Chai-anan Samudavanija        Director Director, Vajiravudh College 5.      Mr. Viroj Nualkhair                           Director President, Krungthai Bank Public Company Limited 6.      Mr. Chartsiri Sophonpanich           Director President, Bangkok Bank Public Company Limited 7.      Mr. Vichit Suraphongchai               Director Chairman of the Executive Committee, Siam Commercial Bank Public Company Limited 8.      Mr. Olarn Chaipravat                      Director President, Shinawatra University Council 9.      Mr. Borwornsak Uwanno               Director Secretary General, King Prajadhipok's Institute 10.    Pol. Gen. Sant Sarutanond           Director Commissioner-General, Royal Thai Police 11.    ACM Kongsak Wantana               Director Commander-in-Chief, Royal Thai Air Force 12.    ACM Terdsak Sujjaruk                 Director Managing Director, Airports of Thailand Plc. 13.   Mr. Thirachai Vudhidhama           Director Advisor to the Chairman of Transport Committee (Senator) 14.   Asst. Prof. Dr. Thatchai Sumitr    Director President, Chulalongkorn University 15.   Mr. Kanok Abhiradee                   Director & Secretary President, Thai Airways International Plc. The appointment of THAI's Board of Directors takes immediate effect.  Attending THAI's Annual General Shareholders' Meeting were 1,436 shareholders, representing 1,311,617,937  shares. Back to index...

THAI Announces Board Meeting Results 19 December 2002, Thai Airways International Public Company Limited held a Board of Directors' Meeting, chaired by Mr. Thanong Bidaya, THAI's Chairman, with the following results: Progress on THAI's Investment Project at Suvarnabhumi Airport THAI's Board of Directors approved plans to hire a Project Management Consultant (PMC) for THAI's investment project at Suvarnabhumi Airport, this being APAE Group, which consists of architecturals One Hundred and Ten Co., Ltd. and three consortiums, those being P.B. Asia Company Limited, Arunchaiseri Consulting Engineers Company Limited, and Environmental Engineering Consultants Company Limited.  APAE Group, as the project management consultant,  will manage THAI's construction project at Suvarnabhumi Airport for completion within the time period specified by the Thai Government. In addition, THAI's Board acknowledged progress made on THAI's project at Suvarnabhumi Airport. The Airports of Thailand Public Company Limited (AOT) granted approval for THAI to lease space for an additional two activities, those being Cargo and Mail Services as well as Catering operations at the new airport.  Approval was previously received for the following activities of the airline:  Aircraft Maintenance Center, Ground Equipment Services, and the Operations Center.  THAI's Board also acknowledged that THAI had appointed representatives as AOT committee and subcommittee members, those being the Committee on Operations and Transfer to Suvarnabhumi Airport, the Subcommittee on Passenger and Baggage Services, and the Subcommittee on Ground Equipment Services, in order to jointly work on plans to establish operations at the new airport. Back to index...

THAI Holds Seminar to Promote Chiang Mai as a Trading Hub 16 December 2002, Mr. Kanok Abhiradee, President, Thai Airways International Public Company Limited, chaired a "Trading Hub of Thailand" seminar, which was attended by over 150 representatives from both the government and private sectors as well as business and travel/tourism sectors in the north of Thailand. The seminar was held in response to the government's policy to promote Thailand as the air transportation hub of the Asian region and decentralise potential to other regions of Thailand.  This is one of the national strategies to develop Thailand and distribute revenue to various parts of the country. Thai Airways International is helping to promote Chiang Mai as a northern hub of Thailand in order to accommodate the rising number of regional visitors and provide additional capacity to supplement the Suvarnabhumi Airport capacity.  Thai Airways International also spearheaded a brainstorming session among representatives from both the government and private sectors in Chiang Mai and other northern provinces to promote Chiang Mai as a center of medical services, international education, and focal point for the import/export trade of both manufactured and agricultural products. One of the ways in which THAI supports Chiang Mai as a northern hub was the recent launch of flight operations to Chittagong, the People's Republic of Bangladesh, using Chiang Mai as a connecting point.  From 11 December 2002, THAI began its thrice-weekly flights on the route Bangkok-Chiang Mai-Chittagong, every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, utilising Boeing 737-400 aircraft.  THAI also plans to expand flight operations from Chiang Mai as well as operate codeshare flights with other domestic and international private carriers, to other regional destinations in the future. The "Trading Hub of Thailand" seminar was attended by over 150 representatives comprising representatives from various business groups from the northern provinces of Thailand (Chiang Mai,Chiang Rai and Lampun)including Chamber of Commerce, tourism associations, import/export, trading companies, manufacturers, agricultural product groups, the Night Bazaar, shippers and international cargo club.  Three seminars have already been organised by THAI to promote Chiang Mai as the northern hub of Thailand including the latest "Medical Hub of Thailand" seminar in November. Back to index...

THAI Introduces Chittagong on international network 12 December 2002, Thai Airways International's official introduction of its new flight operations on the route Bangkok-Chiang Mai-Chittagong, the People's Republic of Bangladesh, was presided over by H.E. Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and H.E. Begum Khaleda Zia,Prime Minister of the People's Republic of Bangladesh at the Royal Air Force airport wing 41 and Chiang Mai International Airport. Over 200 participants joined the special flight and ceremony including Mr.Promminh Lertsuriyadej, Deputy Prime Minister, Mr. Surakiat Satienthai,Foreign Affairs Minister, Mr. Adisai Bodaramik, Commerce Minister, Mr.Suriya Jungrungroengkit, Minister of Transport, Mr. Sonthaya Khunpleum,Minister of Tourism and Sports, Mr. Pichet Satirachawal, Deputy Minister of Transport, Mr. Kanok Abhiradee, THAI's President, members of THAI's Board of Directors, guests and media.According to the airline's President, Kanok Abhiradee, the launch of THAI's flight operations between Bangkok and Chittagong via Chiang Mai, was in response to the government's policy to promote Chiang Mai as the northern hub of Thailand. Thai Airways International also plans to promote Chiang Mai as a center of international education, and focal point for the import/export trade of both manufactured and agricultural products in order to develop Chiang Mai as the regional hub of air transportation and business. In addition, a large number of people from Bangladesh travel to Bangkok for medical check ups and other health care services each month. "The launch of this new flight will sharpen THAI's competitive edge in the aviation arena even further while strengthening Chiang Mai's potential to accommodate travelers from other regions as well as for Suvarnabhumi Airport," said Kanok Abhiradee. THAI now operate thrice-weekly flights on the route Bangkok-Chiang Mai-Chittagong, every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, utilising Boeing 737-400 aircraft,capable of accommodating 149 passengers, with 12 business class and 137 economy class seats. Until 31 January 2003, THAI's Royal Orchid Plus members traveling on the routes Chiang Mai-Chittagong and Chittagong-Chiang Mai will receive double mileage points to celebrate the launch of the new destination on THAI's network. For more details, please contact THAI's Sales Offices or Tel:0-2628-2000. Back to index

THAI Launches First Flight to Chittagong On 11 December 2002, Thai Airways International will begin flight operations on the route Bangkok-Chiang Mai-Chittagong, the People's Republic of Bangladesh. H.E. Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and H.E. Begum Khaleda Zia , Prime Minister of the People's Republic of Bangladesh will preside over the official launch of THAI's flight operation on 12th December in Chittagong, said Kanok Abhiradee, THAI's President.THAI will be operating thrice weekly flights on the route Bangkok-Chiang Mai-Chittagong, every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, utilising Boeing 737-400 aircraft, capable of accommodating 149 passengers, with 12 business class and 137 economy class seats. Chittagong is the largest port of Bangladesh on the Bay of Bengal. Bangladesh is promoting Chittagong as a key business area of the country, especially for garment trading as there are a number of industrial manufacturing plants in the area. Chittagong also exports large amount of fishery products to other countries including Singapore, Hong Kong and Taipei, as well as vegetables to countries in the Middle East and Europe. Other important export products are electrical appliances, eye glass lens and personal amenities, all of which would benefit from direct shipment from Chittagong, avoiding the six hour road journey involved when shipping from Dhaka. Chittagong is the 59th destination on THAI's network. Currently, THAI operates daily flights to Dhaka in Bangladesh, utilising MD-11 and Airbus A330-300 aircraft. Chittagong is the second destination for THAI in Bangladesh.To mark the launch of operations, THAI has introduced special fares from 11 December 2002 to 31 March 2003, at 7,800 Baht for the return economy class routing Bangkok-Chittagong, and 17,000 Baht on Business Class. Economy class ticket on the route Chiang Mai-Chittagong is offered at 4,800 Baht and 13,900 Baht on Business Class. For more details, please contact THAI's Sales Offices or Tel:0-2628-2000. Back to index...

THAI Adds Scenes of "Paradorn" to its Inflight Entertainment Program Mr. Kanok Abhiradee, President of Thai Airways International, announced that THAI will show highlighted scenes from the semi-final round at the Stockholm Open 2002 tennis match, featuring Mr.Paradorn Srichapan, Thailand's number one male tennis player, on board its aircraft. The fifty minutes segment will be part of THAI's inflight entertainment program on selected routes from December 2002 onwards, in order to celebrate Paradorn's  victories and to promote Thailand's number one athlete to a wider audience. Back to index...