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Thai Airways to cut 1,401 jobs as it tries to break even this year
THAI Airways International plans to cut 1,401 jobs through voluntary retirement as it aims to cut operating costs by THB9 billion (US$257.4 million) this year, Reuters reports.
Thai Airways has 50 routes that are either loss-making or have low returns, the company said.
Thailand's flag carrier also plans to cut operating costs and capacity by 20 per cent under the two-year plan, which also calls for aircraft sales and a reduction in staffing.
The firm is one of several state-controlled companies that the military government has targeted for reform since seizing power in May 2014.
The flight suspension will reduce Thai Air capacity by five per cent, company president Charumporn Jotikasthira said. The company aims to cut capacity 15 per cent during the second of 2015.
"It's normal that we have to cut costs and adjust flights to suit a changing situation," he said, adding the airline has set budget of THB5.3 billion for the voluntary retirement scheme.
The number leaving excludes those that will reach retirement age in 2015, he said.
From October 25, the carrier will stop flying from Bangkok to Los Angeles and to Rome. The loss-making routes cost the company more than THB100 million a year, he said
The flight suspension to Los Angeles will close Thai Airways operations in the United States. The firm suspended flights to New York in 2008, also because the route was unprofitable.
But the carrier will double the number of flights from Bangkok to London and Bangkok to Frankfurt to twice daily, he said.
To further reduce costs, Thai Airways will cut the frequency of its flights to Kolkata, India, he said. It will also transfer operations of three routes, Hyderabad in India, Changsha in China and Luang Prabang in Laos, to its Thai Smile mid-range unit, the president said.
Mr Charumporn reiterated his expectation that Thai Airways' operation will break even at the end of this year, although the bottom line would be impacted by rising restructuring costs.
Thai Airways has 50 routes that are either loss-making or have low returns, the company said.
Thailand's flag carrier also plans to cut operating costs and capacity by 20 per cent under the two-year plan, which also calls for aircraft sales and a reduction in staffing.
The firm is one of several state-controlled companies that the military government has targeted for reform since seizing power in May 2014.
The flight suspension will reduce Thai Air capacity by five per cent, company president Charumporn Jotikasthira said. The company aims to cut capacity 15 per cent during the second of 2015.
"It's normal that we have to cut costs and adjust flights to suit a changing situation," he said, adding the airline has set budget of THB5.3 billion for the voluntary retirement scheme.
The number leaving excludes those that will reach retirement age in 2015, he said.
From October 25, the carrier will stop flying from Bangkok to Los Angeles and to Rome. The loss-making routes cost the company more than THB100 million a year, he said
The flight suspension to Los Angeles will close Thai Airways operations in the United States. The firm suspended flights to New York in 2008, also because the route was unprofitable.
But the carrier will double the number of flights from Bangkok to London and Bangkok to Frankfurt to twice daily, he said.
To further reduce costs, Thai Airways will cut the frequency of its flights to Kolkata, India, he said. It will also transfer operations of three routes, Hyderabad in India, Changsha in China and Luang Prabang in Laos, to its Thai Smile mid-range unit, the president said.
Mr Charumporn reiterated his expectation that Thai Airways' operation will break even at the end of this year, although the bottom line would be impacted by rising restructuring costs.
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