Chadchart says govt not behind rumours THAI chief to be fired

“Regarding the rumours of the dismissal of the THAI president, there is no political involvement. I know nothing and there is no order from anyone [in government]. The decision depends on the THAI board only. [The transport] minister’s duty is to oversee policy. 

“We have to wait for THAI’s report. If there have been any drawbacks in Sorajak’s performance, there should have been some reports to me. But there has been no such report,” Chadchart said.

He added that in his personal view, dismissing the airline’s president after the first round of six-month performance appraisals would be overly harsh.

Speculation on a possible dismissal of THAI’s president has arisen from its expected loss of Bt7.8 billion in the second quarter of this year. However, it would have to be shown that the loss was due to Sorajak’s failures. THAI’s performance has to be analysed in comparison with other airlines. In principle, the THAI board should also be responsible for this expected poor performance. 

Deputy Transport Minister Prin Suvanadat said that if the board were to dismiss Sorajak, there would have to be clarification on its analysis of the cause of the losses. It should be taken into consideration whether these were caused by overly high payments for the purchase of aircraft, foreign-exchange losses or oil prices. 

In the past, THAI has suffered major losses from uncontrollable and volatile foreign exchange and oil prices.

“I could not answer whether Sorajak’s performance is good or not as I have not seen THAI’s performance figures yet,” Prin said, adding that the ministry would hear a presentation today from Sorajak on THAI’s financial results. 

Ampon Kittiampon, chairman of the THAI board, said he did not know about the rumours, explaining that the company had regulations on corporate governance and every issue had to be taken up by committees. 

“I don’t know about Sorajak’s performance appraisal. There is a subcommittee for this. This issue depends on the board, not only me,” Ampon said. Sorajak also claimed ignorance about such rumours. 

Tomorrow, a committee led by Finance Ministry permanent secretary Areepong Bhoocha-oom will meet to appraise the THAI president’s performance. The result will be forwarded to the company’s board for approval.

The board will convene today and report the company’s first-half performance to the Stock Exchange of Thailand.

An anonymous source from the Ministry of Transport said Sorajak might consent to stepping down if there were such a request. His appointment was made through nomination with the current government’s approval, said the source, noting that a dismissal was unlikely.