Thai Smile ready to assist Nok Air
Play
Thai Smile Airways expressed its readiness to assist Nok Air which has to cancel 20 flights on February 23 on pilot shortage.
Woranate Lahprabang, acting chief executive officer of Thai Smile, said that all the allied airlines stood ready for help, but such must not interfere with its daily operations. Flights will be ready only when Thai Smile has a free slot, he added.
"Fierce competition exists in the airline industry but we stand ready to help. In a way, our help to another company in the same industry also demonstrates our responsibility to society, to deliver services to affected passengers. Meanwhile, the Transport Ministry has also sent us a special request," he said.
Thai Smile are named as three allied carriers, aside from Thai Airways International and Thai Lion Air. According to Woranate, Thai Smile has operated four charter flights to assist Nok Air, following the pilot strike on February 15.
To offer services to Nok Air passengers, Thai Smile has to operate the extra flights from Don Mueang Airport.
Nok Air announced the cancellation of the February 23 flights yesterday. Chula Sukmanop, director general of the Civil Aviation Department, said that in doing so, Nok Air had followed through the regulations.
"The airline offered passengers ample time to return tickets, reschedule flights or fly with other airlines," he said.
