Thread: Thai Air New Pres Laments; Airline Besieged by," Political Interference and Nepotism"

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/8363476.stm


The new president of Thai Airways has strongly criticised political interference in his airline.


Mr Amranand slammed favouritism at his airline

Thailand's loss-making national carrier continues to struggle with enormous pressure from outside, Piyasvasti Amranand told the BBC.
The newly appointed head of Thai Airways was in London on a global road show to gather investor support.
"The management had not really been allowed to manage the company," Mr Amranand said in an unusually frank interview.
"The company had been interfered heavily by the board, by the politicians. That had substantially weakened the management of the company, and our response to the crisis."
Restructuring
He has been the airline's president for just four weeks. Mr Amranand said it had taken months of negotiations to secure a strong enough mandate for his new job.
On Monday, the state-owned carrier reported a net loss of $121m (£71.8m) for the July-to-September quarter.
The results were worse than analysts had expected. They forecast another loss in the fourth quarter, traditionally high season for tourism.
Thai Airways is currently overhauling its management and business operations after reporting a record loss in the last three months of 2008.
Mr Amranand seems an unusual pick to run the national carrier. As a fund manager, he refused to own shares in the airline.
"Thai Airways was a company which did not provide transparent information to investors," he said.
"Thai Airways management were not able to provide clear directions or policy to investors. Most of the big funds, whether in Thailand or outside Thailand, stayed away from Thai Airways stocks."
'Top three'
Mr Amranand said he had been drawn to head the airline because it was in trouble.
"I would like to see the company becoming one of the best airlines again in Asia, and the world. Maybe top three in Asia, top five in the world, within two or three years," he said.
Central to this success, he said, was reducing political interference in the day to day running of the airline, which is majority owned by the state.
He said one of the most serious problems was nepotism and favouritism in promotions and in the awarding of contracts.
"When you promote people who have connections but no ability, initially it's okay, but eventually it weakens the company, Mr Amranand said.
"It reduces the quality of the work. That is what has happened to Thai Airways

Originally Posted by ChristySweet

"When you promote people who have connections but no ability, initially it's okay, but eventually it weakens the company, Mr Amranand said.

Must be plenty of people with connections working at TG then! They cannot be bothered to answer emails, or most of the time even the phone, old planes, high fares and crap food. Quite a task to make TG into one of the top airlines in Asia.

I wonder how long Mr Amranand will have a job after that interview...

they are 30% more expensive than other airlines, and yet still manage to lose money

the looting inside that company must be huge,

wonder how he got the job?

Eton and Oxford educated?

^^^ Perhaps on some routes... All I know is that Thai Air is the cheapest alternative for me LAX to BKK... Plus it's the only direct flight, which to me means less travel time...

Problem is they have very few paying customers in business or first. All the hi/so, political shitheads, and semi royalty fly for free. Thats what he is talking about I think,

Originally Posted by aging one

All the hi/so, political shitheads, and semi royalty fly for free. Thats what he is talking about I think,

yep, wouldn't be surprised if they fly their maids and other staff too for free, even if in economy

Originally Posted by good2bhappy

wonder how he got the job?

The position sat empty for over a year, I saw the ads in both English language newspapers.

As quoted, he held out for autonomy and I guess he was testing the waters with that interview. Sounds capable of turning the Airline around

Could apply his observation to most of Thai infrastructure.

I have for the first time since the 1-2 Go Crash , Thai DCA revelations, booked a short domestic ticket on Thai Air. Fingers crossed ..

I gave up on Thai aviation when I witnessed passengers smoking next to Bangkok Air plane w the fuel truck present at U Tapau Pattaya airport.

their website for reservation has actually improved now, it seems to work. Not the case again 6 months ago. I was quoted cheaper fare than given by phone for the same conditions. They used to list only their "official" fares and usually it was 100,000 THB for any destination.

My flights on Thai have been pleasant but the silliness that went on at the ticket counter with many Thais trying to get upgraded from economy without paying for it was downright silly. They must have some really bad problems for their head to be talking publicly like this.

Hats off to him.

He's got an impossible job.

And if he starts to try to stop the corruption and nepotism, he wont be around long.

Nice to see some honesty though.

Originally Posted by BobR

My flights on Thai have been pleasant but the silliness that went on at the ticket counter with many Thais trying to get upgraded from economy without paying for it was downright silly. They must have some really bad problems for their head to be talking publicly like this.

Cheap bastards, I have flown with them over 50 times and never had an upgrade once, this is probably why!

He is getting 300,000 baht a month to try and clean it up. Poor bastard.

Originally Posted by crazy dog

Originally Posted by BobR

My flights on Thai have been pleasant but the silliness that went on at the ticket counter with many Thais trying to get upgraded from economy without paying for it was downright silly. They must have some really bad problems for their head to be talking publicly like this.

Cheap bastards, I have flown with them over 50 times and never had an upgrade once, this is probably why!

Yeah, me too! Next time I will be in that queue.

Agree with BobR, 80% of business and first are hangers on and thats where the airline makes its profit.

Always makes me laugh when I see the monks up the front slumming it. Champagne Sir..?

" Political Interference and Nepotism"

surely not

knock me down with a feather .....................

Bt300,000 a month for CEO of a national carrier is jack shit. He should be on USD1,000,000 a year at least!

Shows the job is worthless if they'd rather pocket the cash than hire (and support) a decent manager. Typical Thais. Bleed it till it's dead and then complain about how badly it was run when their backhanders run out!

^ 300 000 grand a month, I know bar girls in soi 33 that earn that.

I'm too scared to fly Thai in case I get arrested on arrival in Thailand for lèse majesté for reading while others are asleep.

appears he knows where some of the problems are cant see it happening honesty is not a thais trait sadly

Seems like a manager trying to manage; made reasonable comments to.

Problem is that he heas now made others lose face, and nobody will help him to run the company; decent people like this are much needed, but they're on a hidding to nothing.

Good luck to him, wish him well, can't see him lasting 3 months before he walks out (to the joy of the rest of the senior management team, who will bleed the company til it's dead) - impossible task.