Thai Airways International (THAI) has announced plans to merge its subsidiary, Thai Smile Airways, into its main operations as part of its restructuring efforts. Thai Smile is a budget airline that operates domestic and short-haul international flights.
The CEO of Thai Airways, Chai Eamsiri, stated that as part of the restructuring process, they will reacquire 20 Airbus A320 aircraft that are currently being used by Thai Smile. This integration is expected to be completed by January of next year.
Once the consolidation is finalized, Thai Airways will inform the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) and the Transport Ministry about the transfer of the 20 aircraft. As a result of this merger, Thai Smile’s aviation operating license under the airline code WE will be canceled, while Thai Airways’ code TG will remain as the national carrier’s sole identifier.
The main objective of this move is to optimize the utilization of aircraft. Thai Airways’ average flight duration per day is around 13 hours, while Thai Smile’s flight hours average around 9 hours. By efficiently managing the Airbus A320 fleet, Thai Airways expects to reduce costs by up to 20%.
Despite the discontinuation of Thai Smile in January 2024, Thai Airways will continue to operate all routes previously covered by Thai Smile. All staff, including pilots and crew members, will transition to Thai Airways and wear THAI uniforms. However, the name “Thai Smile Airways” may still be retained, giving Thai Airways the flexibility to explore various aviation-related ventures without the need to establish a new entity.
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SOURCE: thenationthailand.com
For more information go to http://thaiairways.com
