THAI board approves 7-year business strategy
Thai Airways International's board of directors on Friday approved the seven-year business strategy (2012-2018), which includes the decommissioning of 51 aircraft and acquisition of 56 new aircraft.
In 2012, the airline expects to boost the revenue to Bt207.5 billion, an increase of 7 per cent from last year amid continuity in cost cutting. This will be achieved through a 7 per cent increase in revenue passenger kilometre (RPK) while the average cabin factor will increase 4.61 per cent to 74.98 per cent.
In a statement, the board said that the seven-year strategy takes into account fiercer competition in the aviation industry, geopolitical conflicts, the eurozone crisis and natural disasters. In the first two years, corporate competitiveness would be strengthened.
In the plan, 51 aircraft including those leased to Nok Air would be decommissioned while 56 aircraft would be delivered. The company is reviewing the plan to acquire another 38 aircraft, as approved by the Cabinet in April 2011.
"At the end of 2017, the airline's fleet would demonstrate higher efficiency, lower fuel and maintenance costs, as well as lower emission," the board said in the statement.
During the seven years, the RPK is expected to grow 6 per cent per annum on average while avilable seat kilometre (ASK) would grow 5 per cent on average.
During 2012-2013, it will be delivered 25 new aircraft, with 21 to be decommissioned. THAI Smile, the light premium airline, would fly its flight flight to Macau on July 1.
THAI now flies to 62 destinations in 34 countries, with 863 weekly flights.
