Category Archives: Thai Airways International

Thai reports a smaller loss in the first quarter, increases flights

Thai Airways International issues this financial report for the first quarter:

Thai Airways International Public Company Limited (THAI) announces results of its operational performance for the first quarter of 2022 of THAI and its subsidiaries with the total revenue excluding the one-time transactions at 11,181 million baht, higher than last year by 6,797 million baht or 155%, mainly due to an increase in both passenger and cargo revenue by 6,719 million baht or 255.7%.  The total operating expenses excluding the one-time transactions amounted to 14,348 million baht which was 2,967 million baht higher than the previous year, mainly due to variable operating expenses and the rise in fuel price.  This resulted in operating loss before the financial costs excluding the one-time transactions at 3,167 million baht, lower than last year by 3,830 million baht or 54.7%.

THAI and its subsidiaries reported 3,243 million baht of net loss in the Q1/ 2022, lower than the same period last year by 8,962 million baht.  Loss attributable to owners of the parent company amounted to 3,247 million baht.  Loss per share was 1.49 baht, while in Q1/2021 was 5.59 baht.

As of 31 March 2022, the total assets of THAI and its subsidiaries were 162,423 million baht, which increased by 1,204 million baht compared to the figure as of 31 December 2021. The total liabilities were 236,909 million baht, an increase by 4,439 million baht.  Shareholders’ equity amounted to -74,486 million baht, which is a decrease of 3,235 million baht, due to THAI and its subsidiaries’ net loss.

From Q1/2022 to the first two months of Q2/2022, travel demand has significantly increased due to the Government’s Test and Go entry requirements.  THAI and THAI Smile reported an increase of international and domestic passengers in average per day from 4,929 and 269 in October 2021 to 10,238 and 10,870 respectively in the first ten days of May 2021.  THAI Cargo also reported its operational service per day at 50% of 2019 before COVID-19 pandemic.

From Q2/2022, THAI and THAI Smile will increase flight frequencies for operations on international and domestic routes in response to the significantly higher demand for air travel due to decreasing rate of COVID-19 infections and travel restrictions loosening in many countries.  As for Thailand’s entry requirements, since 1 May 2022, the Government has cancelled COVID-19 testing measures for vaccinated travelers and required RT-PCR test from unvaccinated travelers on day 4-5 after their arrival date in the country.

THAI increases flight frequencies and resumes flight services with details as follows:

Flight frequencies are increased in the following destinations:

• Chennai (India) from five weekly flights to daily flight, starting 1 April 2022

• Bengaluru (India) from five weekly flights to daily flight, starting 1 April 2022

• Delhi from daily flight to twice daily flights, starting 1 April 2022

• Mumbai from five weekly flights to daily flight, starting 1 April 2022

• Lahore (Pakistan) from three to four weekly flights, starting 1 May 2022

• Karachi from two to three weekly flights, starting 1 May 2022

• Islamabad from two to three weekly flights, starting 1 May 2022

• Hanoi from daily flight to twice daily flights, starting 1 May 2022

• Ho Chi Minh from daily flight to twice daily flights, starting 1 May 2022

• Phnom Penh from daily flight to twice daily flights, starting 1 May 2022

• Melbourne from four weekly flights to daily flight, starting 17 May 2022

• London from eleven weekly flights to twice daily flight, starting 29 May 2022

• Jakarta from three weekly flights to daily flight, starting 1 June 2022

• Dhaka (Bangladesh) from daily flight to ten weekly flights, starting 1 June 2022

• Frankfurt from ten weekly flights to twice daily flights, starting 25 June 2022

• Taipei from four weekly flights to daily flight, starting 1 July 2022

• Singapore from 10 weekly flights to twice daily flights, starting 1 July 2022

• Copenhagen from five weekly flights to daily flight, starting 1 July 2022

• Munich from five weekly flights to daily flight, starting 1 July 2022

• Zurich from five weekly flights to daily flight, starting 1 July 2022

Additional flight adjustments are as follows:

• Penang: four weekly flights, starting 1 May 2022

• Vientiane: three weekly flights, starting 1 May 2022

• Bali (Denpasar):  four weekly flights, staring 1 May 2022

daily flight, starting 18 June 2022

• Hyderabad: daily flight, starting 13 May 2022

• Yangon: daily flight, starting 1 June 2022

• Tokyo (Haneda): daily flight, starting 1 July 2022

• Kaohsiung (Taiwan): daily flight, staring 1 July 2022

• Brussels: three weekly flights, during 2 July – 30 August 2022

In addition, THAI Smile will operate twice daily flights from Don Mueang airport to Phuket International airport starting 20 May 2022.

The Company continues to improve customer experiences through the Royal First Class cabin on flights TG910/911 in London route and TG600/601 in Hong Kong route utilizing new Boeing 777-300ERs, which were equipped with wider seats and entertainment screens offering over 1,000 programs inflight entertainment.  During the flight, Royal First passengers can enjoy a range of international cuisines prepared with high quality ingredients and various beverages menu.  Meanwhile, Royal Silk passengers can enjoy Amuse-bouche as appetizer, All Day Dining service, popular Thai street food such as Pad Thai and mango sticky rice served on the THAI’s European routes, etc.  Pre-Select Meal service on thaiairways.com is available for Royal First and Royal Silk passengers and ROP Platinum and Gold members.

THAI, as the national flag carrier, selects the local brand to encourage domestic employment especially for farmers by serving Doi Tung Development Project’s coffee and internationally recognized Kan Vela Craft Chocolate in First and business classes.

In addition to THAI’s new e-reading platform available onboard, in ticket offices, and check-in counters, the inflight Wi-Fi service will soon be resumed.

The recovery in travel demand and cargo delivery has contributed largely to a significant amount of revenue generation.  As a result, the company’s liquidity reached the maximum level since the Central Bankruptcy Court approved the rehabilitation plan on 15 June 2021.

Thai aircraft photo gallery:

Thai to resume services on 36 international routes on October 31

Thai Airways International Airbus A350-941 HS-THJ (msn 177) BRU (Ton Jochems). Image: 955511.

Thai Airways International has announced it is resuming operations on 36 international routes to Europe, Asia and Australia on October 31, 2021

Thailand will allow fully vaccinated visitors from initially 10 low-risk countries to enter Thailand with no quarantine requirements starting on November 1.

Top Copyright Photo: Thai Airways International Airbus A350-941 HS-THJ (msn 177) BRU (Ton Jochems). Image: 955511.

Thai aircraft slide show:

More from Bangkok Post:

https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/2197755/thai-airways-to-resume-international-services

COVID and “business rehabilitation” trim the Thai fleet

Thai Airways International Airbus A330-322 HS-TEM (msn 346) BKK (Jay Selman). Image: 404104.

Thai Airways International due to COVID-19 and the loss of routes and passengers as well as the bankruptcy reorganization (known as business rehabilitation in Thailand) has been forced to simplify and trim its fleet.

Currently the airline is only operating three basic types:

Airbus A350-900s

Boeing 777-300ERs

Boeing 787-8/9 Dreamliners

Domestic and regional flights are being operated with Thai Smile Airbus A320s.

The company addressed this process in their first half report of 2021:

On May 26, 2020, the Company submitted a petition to enter into a business rehabilitation process and proposed the rehabilitation planner (“the Planners”) to the Central Bankruptcy Court. On May 27, 2020, the Central Bankruptcy Court accepted the business rehabilitation petition for further consideration. As a result, the Company is under the automatic stay provisions status under the Bankruptcy Act B.E. 2483. Such situation may affect to the Company having to maintain automatic stay status and unable to repay debt, which is considered as debt payment default conditions.

On June 15, 2021, the Central Bankruptcy Court issued an order to approve the business rehabilitation plan and the amendment petitions in accordance with the resolution of the creditors’ meeting on May 19, 2021.

As at June 30, 2021, the Company had 103 aircraft represented in the Company’s fleet, which consisted of 33 own aircraft and 70 aircraft under lease agreements presented as right-of-use assets.

Thai has 13 decommissioned aircraft which are held for sale comprising of 3 Airbus A340-500s, 6 Airbus A340-600s, 1 Airbus A300-600 and 3 Boeing 737-400 aircraft.

Thai has parked all Airbus A330s, A380s and Boeing 777-200s (non-ERs) and 777-300s (non-ERs).

Previously the airline retired the Airbus A340-500 (April 29, 2012), A340-600 (March 29, 2015) and Boeing 737-400 (September 2, 2018) and 747-400 (March 26, 2020).

If traffic returns, some aircraft may be reactivated.

Top Copyright Photo: The 15 Airbus A330-300s are currently parked with an uncertain future. Thai Airways International Airbus A330-322 HS-TEM (msn 346) BKK (Jay Selman). Image: 404104.

Thai aircraft slide show:

Thai to reduce its fleet including all 10 Boeing 747-400s

Thai Airways International is restructuring and is planning to shed many of its aircraft in its mostly grounded fleet.

The carrier has put its 10 Boeing 747-400s up for sale.

The large Jumbo aircraft have been parked since March due to COVID-19.

For the record, the last Boeing 747-400 revenue flight was operated on March 26, 2020 as flight TG 476 between Sydney and Bangkok with HS-TGA.

The airline also is listing 12 Boeing 777s and nine Airbus A340s also for sale “as is”.

Here is the full list of Thai aircraft for sale:

Thai aircraft photo gallery:

Thai files for reorganization as it continues to operate

Thai Airways International has made this announcement:

Mr. Chakkrit Parapuntakul, Second Vice Chairman and Acting President, Thai Airways International Public Company Limited (Thai), said the Thai Cabinet approved the reform plan for Thai which will be implemented through the business reorganization chapter under the auspices of the Central Bankruptcy Court of Thailand and the Bankruptcy Act.  In the meantime, THAI is able to operate flights and run its business as usual.

Although Thai’s reform plan will be implemented and exercised through the business reorganization chapter under the bankruptcy law, Thai will not be dissolved or go into liquidation or to be declared bankrupt.  On the contrary, the business reorganization chapter will enable Thai to reach its reform plan’s objectives even more effectively step by step as required by the law which provides equitable protection to all relevant stakeholders while Thai will be able to conduct its normal business operations including passenger and cargo transportation.  The business will be conducted in parallel with the reform plan to increase operational efficiency and improve product and service quality.


Thai is committed to do everything possible to emerge from the crisis situation.  This is an important step for Thai to change in order to become a stronger and more sustainable entity. Thai expressed its gratitude to all concerned in every sector of the economy, shareholders, partners, alliance, customers and in particular all Thai passengers for their continued support and confidence in the airline.  Thai will resume full operations once the COVID-19 situation subsides.

In other news, Thai extended its suspension of flight operations for one more month to end of June.

Following the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) announcement prohibiting international flights into Thailand until June 30, 2020, Thai Airways International Public Company Limited (THAI) has to suspend operations for one more month in June 2020.

However, the resumption in July 2020 is still under consideration. Thai is monitoring the situation, preventive measures and lockdowns of each country as well as travel demand closely in order to resume services as the COVID-19 situation improves. Thai have measures in place in preparation for the resumption of passenger service. The official schedule will be announced later.

Currently, Thai operates chartered flights to bring stranded Thais home and cargo flights to support Thai farmers by delivering their agricultural produce.

Thai aircraft photo gallery:

Thai to gradually phase-down its passenger network

Thai Airways International has made this announcement:

Thai Airways International Public Company Limited (THAI) announced that due to the ongoing global outbreak of COVID-19, several countries in Europe and Asia has intensely increased preventive measures including screening by local Ministries of Public Health and Civil Aviation Organizations as well as national lockdown.  Therefore, THAI has prepared its plans and temporarily suspended its operations on the following flights.

1. Starting on March 25, 2020: Hong Kong, Taipei, Tokyo (Narita and Haneda), Osaka, Nagoya, Seoul, Phnom Penh, Vientiane, Ho Chi Minh, Hanoi, Yangon, Singapore, Jakarta, Denpasar, Kunming, Xiamen, Chengdu, Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Karachi, Kathmandu, Lahore, Dhaka, Islamabad, and Colombo. For domestic flights to Chiang Mai, Phuket, and Krabi will be transferred and operated by THAI Smile.

2.  Starting on March 27, 2020: Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, and Perth

3. Starting on April 1, 2020: THAI will cancel most of its flights to Europe which are London, Frankfurt, Paris, Brussels, Copenhagen, Oslo, Moscow and Stockholm

THAI previously suspended flights to Sendai, Sapporo, Fukuoka, Busan, Manila, Kuala Lumpur, Rome, Milan, Vienna, New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Muscat, Dubai, and Auckland.

To facilitate customers, THAI allows passengers holding THAI and THAI Smile code-share flights air tickets, issued before March 25, 2020 with the following date of travel, to convert unused tickets to one-year valid travel voucher without fee and surcharges:
–   Asian Routes during March 25 – May 31, 2020
–   European, Australian and New Zealand Routes during April 1 – May 31, 2020

Royal Orchid Plus (ROP) members holding award tickets issued to travel during March 25 –  May 31, 2020 may fully re-credit mileages or change the travel date without any fee or charge with expired miles extended until September 30, 2020.

Passengers may check flight schedules and make changes to itineraries themselves on thaiairways.com website. For ticket adjustments or more information, ROP members can contact THAI Sales Offices or visit thaiairways.com/rop.

THAI still operate cargo service in some routes and will operate charter flight if there are stranded passengers or requested by government agencies concerned. The Company will inform passengers accordingly if there is some flight adjustment.

Thai aircraft photo gallery:

Thai Airways is at a “crisis point”

Thai Airways International president Sumeth Damrongchaithem warned the airline is at a “Crisis Point” if its employees do not work with the airline in its rehabilitation efforts according to the Bangkok Post.

According to the report, the airline is facing tough lower-cost competition and the airline is in a crisis as it continues to lose money.

The president warned that if it does not cut costs it could be forced to shut down in 2020.

Thai officially unveils the Suphannahong Royal Barge livery on HS-TKF

Thai Airways International made this announcement with photos:

Today (August 16, 2019), Mr. Sumeth Damrongchaitham, President of Thai Airways International Public Company Limited (THAI), presided over a sacred ceremony that was conducted by Phra Maha Raja Guru Bidhi Sri Visudhigun to bless the Suphannahong Royal Barge aircraft livery that commemorates the Royal Coronation Ceremony 2019. The ceremony was attended by THAI Management and staff at the THAI Technical Department, Don Mueang, on Vibhavadi Rangsit Road.

Mr. Sumeth Damrongchaitham, THAI President, said that the Royal Coronation Ceremony 2019 was held on May 4, 2019, with celebrations to continue until 4 May 2020. THAI, as the national carrier under the Ministry of Transport, has organized activities to commemorate the Royal Coronation as an expression of loyalty and honor.

THAI received permission to paint the Suphannahong Royal Barge aircraft livery on its Boeing 777-300 aircraft (HS-TKF), royally bestowed the name “Lahan Sai.” The Royal Coronation Emblem will appear on THAI’s aircraft throughout the Coronation Year.

The Suphannahong Royal Barge, originally called “Si Suphannahong” or “Chai Suphannahong Royal Barge,” has been the King’s royal barge since the Ayutthaya era. The current Suphannahong Royal Barge was constructed by the royal command of King Rama V and was completed in the reign of King Rama VI. At the front or bow of the barge is a golden swan figurehead, the body or hull is the body of the swan etched in wood and decorated with gold leaf, mirrors, tassels, and engraved glass. The exterior of the barge was painted black, while the interior was painted red, with a throne in the middle of the barge for the monarch or royalty. The Royal Barge was 46.15 meters long, 3.17 meters wide, and 15 tons in weight. Furthermore, this Royal Barge will be used in the Royal Procession for travel along the Chao Phraya River to Wat Arun Ratchavararam (Temple of Dawn) to present robes to Buddhist monks during this year’s annual Royal Kathin Ceremony in October 2019.

In 1999, THAI first painted the Suphannahong Royal Barge aircraft livery on its Boeing 747-400 aircraft royally bestowed the name “Haripunchai” on the auspicious occasion of the Sixth Cycle Birthday of King Rama IX. Therefore, the sacred ceremony is being held to bless the Suphannahong Royal Barge aircraft livery that is painted on THAI’s Boeing 777-300 aircraft that was royally bestowed the name “Lahan Sai,” which will appear on the aircraft from August 2019 to 31 December 2022. This livery differs from the previous one, as there is a rowing team with oars raised symbolic of birds in flight. A sticker (decal) has been used in place of aircraft paint spray for a more realistic appearance.

THAI’s Boeing 777-300 aircraft, royally bestowed the name “Lahan Sai,” is equipped with a total of 364 seats, 34 seats in Royal Silk Class and 330 seats in Economy Class. This aircraft will be operated on roundtrip flights from Bangkok-Seoul, Taipei, Beijing, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, and Sapporo to promote Thai culture worldwide through the Suphannahong Royal Barge aircraft livery.

Image may contain: airplane, sky and outdoor

Thai brings back the Royal Barge special livery on HS-TKF

Thai Airways International has finished painting its Boeing 777-3D7 HS-TKF (msn 29214) in the Royal Barge special livery at Don Muang International Airport (DMK) in Bangkok.

The aircraft is due to re-enter service shortly on Asian routes.

According to the airline;

“The Royal Barge Procession is indeed a grand pageantry, certainly Thailand’s most colorful and prestigious ceremony. As seen from afar, the Royal Barges in the procession make a splendid show, their gold-leaf figureheads jutting out into the wind, their bright red and orange coloured canopies amidships catching the rays of sunlight. But even more remarkable are these splendid vessels when seen up close.

The major barges, including the one that carries the king, are kept in a boathouse on Klong Noi, not far from where the canal empties into the Chao Phraya. In 1972, this old boathouse was renovated and became The National Museum of Royal Barges, under the direction of the Fine Arts Department. But this is no ordinary museum; it’s more like a workshop where teams of artists and artisans painstakingly tend the barges.

The most beautiful barge of them all, and the largest, is the King’s Suphannahong Royal Barge. With its golden swan figurehead, it is often referred to simply as the Golden Swan Barge; it first appeared in chronicles of the Ayutthaya period. She measures 49.17 metres long, 3.15 metres wide and weighs 15 tonnes. What comes as a surprise, among many surprises, is that she is hewed from a single tree, except for the figurehead of the golden swan, making it the largest dugout in the world.

Suphannahong requires a 77-man crew, all dressed in naval attire: 54 sturdy oarsmen and two steersmen, with two officers, one fore and another aft.  In addition there is one standard bearer, one signalman, one chanter and several royal insignia bearers. When in motion on the river, the silver and gold paddles are raised in the air at the end of each stroke, controlled by a rhythm keeper who taps the butt of his silver spear on the deck in time with the chanting of ancient boat songs. The large ‘tassel’ which swings from the beak of the golden swan, according to tradition, signifies that the King is aboard the barge.

The second-most important in rank to the Supannahong is the Anekchatphutchong Royal Barge, first built during the rein of King Rama IV. The present one was launched in 1914. The third is the impressive Anantanagaraj Royal Barge, with its seven-headed Naga figurehead at the bow. The throne amidships is the Kanya type with masterful wood carvings trimmed in gold around the outline. It is used to carry the monastic robes and the elaborate floral offerings to the monks at Wat Arun. The Anantanakaraj, as well as the Suphannahong and the Anekchabuchong, is manned by 54 oarsmen and has a full complement of crew with officers, signalman and standard bearer.”

This special livery was previously worn by Boeing 747-4D7 HS-TGJ and HS-TGO and Airbus A330-322 HS-TEK.