Thailand News - Corona - By Ola J. - Palmtree

DALLAS – Today in Aviation, in 1988, Thailand's then Prime Minister, General Prem Tinsulanonda, announced a cabin resolution to merge the country's two national carriers to form Thai Airways International (TG).

Previously, Thailand was served by one domestic and one international airline. As a result of the merger, TG was valued at 2,230 million Thai Baht.

Domestic Developments

The domestic arm, Thai Airways Company (TH), can trace its history back to November 1, 1951, when Siamese Airways and Pacific Overseas Airlines merged. TH was based in Bangkok and operated a wide and varied fleet, from the Hawker Siddeley HS748 to the Airbus A310.

In 1959, TH joined forces with SAS Scandinavian Airline System (SK) to establish an international carrier. SK provided two million Thai baht to purchase 30% of the shares, plus operational, managerial, and marketing expertise. It also helped to train the airline's new pilots and flight attendants.

International Expansion

Flights commenced on May 1, 1960, from Bangkok to Hong Kong, Taipei, and Tokyo using a fleet of three Douglas DC-6Bs leased from SAS. The airline soon added eleven additional international destinations across Asia. Eighty-three thousand passengers were carried in the first year.

The airline quickly became renowned for its exquisite 'Royal Orchid Service' Intercontinental services using Douglas DC-8 jets commenced in 1971 to Australia, followed by Europe in 1972. Flights to North America began in 1980 using a fleet of six wide-bodied Douglas DC-10s.

On April 1, 1977, the Thai government purchased SAS's remaining shares, with the airline becoming a fully-owned state enterprise of the country's government.

Featured image: Thai Airways International Boeing 747-400 pictured in a retro livery. The airline retired its Boeing 747 fleet in 2021. Photo: Denis Fedorko, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Phuket –

  An American shark expert believes that a blue shark might have bitten an 8-year-old American-Thai boy's leg near Kamala Beach, Phuket yesterday (May 1^st). Meanwhile, beach operators and local officials believe that it was not a shark but a barracuda.

Kamala rescue workers were notified that a young boy, whose name was withheld per editorial policy for minors, had been injured by an unknown marine animal yesterday afternoon.  Rescue workers arrived at the Kamala Beach to find the 8 year-old American-Thai boy lying bleeding and in pain on the beach. Many deep-cut wounds were found on his right leg. He was rushed to the Bangkok Phuket Hospital in Phuket Town.

Mr. David Martin, an American national who is an underwater photographer and a shark expert from the 'Ocean For All Foundation' in Phuket, gave his opinion to The Phuket Express this morning (May 2^nd), "From my experiences of diving and taking photos of underwater life around the world for many years, the wounds on the boy's leg might be from a baby 'Blue Shark'. These wounds are different from other marine animals as the wounds were unique based on specific movements."

Mr. Apisit Anan, a beach operator on Kamala Beach, told The Phuket Express, "This is a similar incident like two years ago with a Chinese tourist. It was a barracuda in my opinion which are common locally. The biggest barracuda that I have ever seen when diving is about 13 kilograms. They like to eat small fish and unprovoked attacks on people are more common than many think."

The Phuket Express notes that barracuda is a large, predatory, ray-finned fish.

The Kathu District Chief Ciwat Rawangkun went to Kamala Beach this morning. He told The Phuket Express, "We have placed warning signs and announced on beach loudspeakers in Thai and English for beachergoers to be aware of marine animals."

The young boy is reportedly recovering and officials are still trying to determine the exact culprit of his wounds.