Airlines seek payment for MPs cancelling bookings
Low-cost carriers are seeking Bt5 million from Parliament to cover unpaid airfares for flights booked by MPs but not flown from October-April.
MPs are eligible to fly free at taxpayers’ expense.
AirAsia is seeking Bt700,000 and Nok Air Bt4.3 million in fees and airfares incurred by MPs who made multiple reservations and urgently changed or cancelled flights, Democrat MP Bunyod Sukmuthinthai said.
However, the airlines failed to show the signatures of MPs or their aides on documents, said Bunyod, the House parliamentary affairs panel spokesman. Transport Minister Chadchart Sittipunt wants budget carriers to stop requiring the names of passengers so MPs can use the reservations made by other MPs who cannot take the flight. Airlines should provide reservation documents with MPs’ signatures to collect payment, he said. Chart Thai Pattana MP Korawee Prissanananthakul said airline officials insist they must follow policy to charge airfare for every passenger booking a flight.
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