Latest news with #ChaiEamsiri
CNBC
13 hours ago
- Business
- CNBC
Thai Airways increasing flights to India to meet growing demand
Chai Eamsiri, CEO of Thailand's flag carrier Thai Airways, calls Bangkok a "regional hub" and adds that the airline will be increasing the frequency of flights to India and neighboring Southeast Asian countries.
The Star
4 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Thai Airways partners with airlines to boost US tourism, drops direct flight plans
BANGKOK: Thai Airways International (THAI) has reaffirmed its readiness to attract American tourists to Thailand through collaboration with airline partners, despite shelving plans for direct flights to the United States. THAI CEO Chai Eamsiri explained that the Federal Aviation Administration has recently upgraded Thailand's aviation safety rating from Category 2 (CAT2) to Category 1 (CAT1), placing it among countries that meet international aviation standards. As a result, Thai airlines are once again permitted to operate direct flights to US airspace. However, after conducting a feasibility study on resuming direct flights to the United States, THAI found the long-haul routes to be economically unviable due to the substantial fuel costs involved. Additionally, return flights from the US would require a reduction of more than 100 passenger seats, while cargo transport would be severely restricted due to fuel constraints limiting payload capacity. "From past flight data, THAI operated in the US market for over a decade, but consistently recorded losses. Even after adjusting strategies, including stopovers, profitability remained elusive,' he said. 'The long distances to destinations like Los Angeles and New York—requiring 17-hour flights—result in high operational costs. Today, after reassessment, we concluded that resuming direct flights would remain financially impractical." Chai further noted that despite direct flights being discontinued, THAI still maintains a presence in the American market. Currently, 30 per cent of its revenue comes from European travellers, followed by Asia, while the US market remains promising. By leveraging partnerships with six American airlines that operate within the region, THAI has managed to sustain revenue growth in the US market, he affirmed. - The Nation/ANN
Skift
15-05-2025
- Business
- Skift
Thai Airways CEO: Rebuilding Confidence was Key to Profitable Turnaround
Thai Airways' turnaround shows that rebuilding trust, not just balance sheets, is key to recovery. As the airline exits restructuring, the real test will be sustaining momentum in an increasingly competitive Asian hub landscape. The chief executive of Thai Airways has spoken candidly about the importance of rebuilding trust. Speaking at the Skift Asia Forum in Bangkok on Thursday, Chai Eamsiri, said gaining stakeholder confidence was the foundation of the company's recent transformation. 'The most important part was to get the confidence of our stakeholders, especially at the beginning. We needed to earn confidence from our partners because at that time, it was very difficult,' he said. Eamsiri described the pandemic period as 'survival mode,' adding: ' Airlines are a cash-burning industry. If you don't have revenue your cash will gone quickly.' In 2021, the Thai flag carrier started restructuring debt worth 400 billion baht ($12 billion) as part of a major shoring up of the business. Eamsiri, who previously served as chief financial officer, before stepping up to CEO in February 2023, offered insight into the scale of the turnaround: 'No one could imagine that Thai Airways can come back as it is today. At that time, four years, five years ago, nobody thought that Thai Airways would come back this strong.' Eamsiri also highlighted the importance of being a financially credible business: 'Once we were halfway [through the plan], I went back to our partners and our stakeholders [and said] that we did what we promised on day one; this is what we've delivered.' End of the Rehabilitation Period The Thai Airways CEO confirmed to Skift that the carrier's rehabilitation plan is due to conclude in 'about a month.' The milestone marks a radical reversal in fortunes for the company, which is now one of the world's most profitable major airlines. The restructuring hasn't been without difficult decisions. Eamsiri and his team oversaw huge cuts to the Thai Airways workforce, with total headcount slashed from around 30,000 to just 15,000. But there are also promising signs of growth. Thai Airways has large orders with both Airbus and Boeing for new-generation jets. These will be used to replace older models, but also expand the network. Asked about the prospect of Bangkok becoming a stopover hub on par with regional or Middle Eastern rivals, Eamsiri said a collaborative effort was essential: 'Thai Airways cannot do it by ourselves. We need the airport to work closely with Thai Airways. Bangkok as a hub is not only a mission for Thai Airways, it's a mission for the country.' A True Network Carrier The CEO said a strong network airline was his goal, and emphasized the importance of feeder routes as a competitive advantage. 'Lately we've changed our strategy to change from point-to-point sales into more on the network airline. We're not ignoring point-to-point but if network sales bring incremental revenue on top of the point-to-point sales, then it's proven that our strategy is the right decision.' Eamsiri cautioned that frequencies as well as routes are a key consideration when developing the Thai Airways network: 'The domestic and the regional routes are an attractive selling point for us. We operate long-haul, intercontinental flights from Europe or Australia into Bangkok, and to make the domestic and regional routes interesting for these passengers, we need to put more frequency into these routes. Otherwise, we cannot give the variety of products, with scheduling also part of the product. If we only have one or two flights a day, passengers will not choose us, so we need to build our network to serve each other.' With the rehabilitation plan nearly complete and a modernized fleet on the horizon, Thai Airways is positioning itself not just as a survivor of the pandemic era, but as financially stable, strategic player. This interview was lightly edited for clarity. What am I looking at? The performance of airline sector stocks within the ST200. The index includes companies publicly traded across global markets including network carriers, low-cost carriers, and other related companies. The Skift Travel 200 (ST200) combines the financial performance of nearly 200 travel companies worth more than a trillion dollars into a single number. See more airlines sector financial performance. Read the full methodology behind the Skift Travel 200.
Skift
06-05-2025
- Business
- Skift
One Week to Go: What to Expect at Skift Asia Forum
Skift Asia Forum kicks off in one week, with an opening reception on May 14 at SEEN Restaurant & Bar and a full day of programming on May 15 at Avani+ Riverside Bangkok Hotel. Attendees can expect insights from top leaders on Asia's evolving travel landscape, plus curated networking and closing reception. We're just one week away from the debut of Skift Asia Forum, happening May 14-15 at the Bangkok Avani + Riverside Hotel. This is your chance to be part of an essential conversation about the future of travel in Asia — and what a moment it is for the region. Skift Asia Forum brings together the most influential leaders across airlines, hospitality, online travel, and destinations to dive deep into the opportunities and challenges shaping this fast-evolving region. With travel demand soaring, infrastructure expanding, and digital platforms maturing, Asia is poised for its next great leap — and our agenda reflects that. Agenda We'll explore themes like intra-Asia travel growth, the new digital consumer, and destination transformation. Sessions will unpack the post-pandemic rebound across Southeast Asia, India's growing outbound travel power, and how global brands are tailoring strategies for local markets. Expect insightful talks and on-stage conversations with key decision-makers including: Dave Stephenson - Chief Business Officer and Head of Employee Experience, Airbnb Boon Sian Chai- Managing Director and Vice President, International Markets, Chai Eamsiri - CEO, Thai Airways Laura Houldsworth - VP and Managing Director for APAC, Dillip Rajakarier - CEO and Group CEO, Minor Hotels and Minor International Wong Kar Ling - Chief Strategy Officer and Managing Director Southeast Asia, The Ascott Limited Song Hoi See - Founder & CEO, Plaza Premium Group Nadia Omer - CEO, AirAsia MOVE Wilfred Fan - Chief Commercial Officer, Klook Bill Bensley - Creative Director and Founder, BENSLEY And Many More Opening Reception Kicking things off on May 14, we'll host an Opening Reception at SEEN Restaurant & Bar Bangkok, perched atop the Avani+ Riverside Bangkok Hotel, starting at 5:00 PM. With panoramic views of the Chao Phraya River and the Bangkok skyline, it's the perfect setting to meet fellow attendees and speakers before the full program begins. Main Event May 15 will feature a full day of mainstage programming at the Avani+ Riverside Bangkok Hotel, including candid CEO interviews, industry deep dives, and networking roundtables designed for meaningful conversation among peers. We'll wrap the day with a closing reception, continuing the energy and insights from the day in a more relaxed setting. Only a few seats remain — join us and the industry's leading voices as we chart the future of Asian travel together. [Register Now] and be part of the conversation shaping what's next.
