Thai Airlines' business showing some slight financial recovery, Air Asia CEO states, Thai Airways to open more international flights next year - The Pattaya News

Thai Airlines' business showing some slight financial recovery, Air Asia CEO states, Thai Airways to open more international flights next year

Thursday, 12 November 2020, 17:33

PHOTO: Bangkokbiznews

National –

Asia Aviation Public Company Limited (AAV), one of the major shareholders of the Thai AirAsia company, reported its revenue for the third quarter in 2020, stating that the airline had received total revenues of 2,403.2 million baht which had increased by up to eight percent when compared to the second quarter and had decreased for about 75 percent in the same period from last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic crisis and limited foreign visitors.

Regarding the financial loss, the company has to face a loss of 1,836.8 million baht from unrealized gains and losses from foreign currency transactions. Still, the AAV stated that the gross loss of this quarter had somewhat shown some financial recovery from the previous quarter after many disease control measures have been eased compared to prior quarters.

PHOTO: Biztalknews

Santisuk Klongchaiya, the Chief Executive Officer of Thai AirAsia, told the press yesterday, November 12, that a steady recovery in Thailand's domestic tourism has been slightly observed in the third quarter as many tourism-related campaigns are offered by the Government and related agencies, resulting in the airline to be able to resume 96 percent of its domestic flights.

As for the fourth quarter, which is known as the high tourist season, Santisuk presumed domestic tourism across the country will continue to progress as the government has officially extended the "Travel Together" campaign until January 2021 as well as welcoming more groups of foreign tourists under the Special Tourist Visa (STV) scheme to potentially spur the Thai economy after the Covid-19 outbreak.

PHOTO: Air Asia

The CEO stated: "We believe the country's re-opening for foreigners registered in the STV visa is a good starting point to gradually recover the domestic economy."

"Moreover, the government's decision to lowering the excise tax on jet fuel to 0.2 baht per liter from 4.726 baht is also significantly beneficial towards airline operators to reduce their costs and to generate more income."

PHOTO: Prachachat

Meanwhile, Wiwat Piyawiroj, the Executive Vice President of Thai Airways, made an announcement that Thai Airways will provide international flights in 10 destinations according to the winter season schedule, starting from January 1, to March 27, 2021, in order to meet rising travel demand and to facilitate traveling passengers who are interested to fly with the airline under scheduled flights.

The 10 destination cities are Copenhagen, Frankfurt, London, Sydney, Hong Kong, Manila, Taipei, Seoul, Osaka, and Tokyo. All passengers returning to Bangkok with Thai Airways will be subject to follow strict state quarantine, Covid-19 tests and an array of other paperwork  according to Thai government measures, Wiwat stressed.