Thai Airways International Plc (THAI) is expected to post a loss of around 2.2 billion baht this year, significantly less than its initially projected 10 billion baht in losses, according to the company president.
Sumeth Damrongchaitham said on Tuesday he expected this year's losses to narrow to 2.2 billion baht compared with 3.6 billion baht for the whole of last year. Next year, the national carrier aims to increase the available seat kilometres (ASK), the industry's measure of its passenger carrying capacity, by 2-3%.
The usage and productivity hours THAI's fleet will also increase to 12 hours and 30 minutes per aircraft per day, from their present usage of 12 hours and 15 minutes per day.
He added that the national carrier is on track to receive three new aircraft in the last quarter of next year. Those aircraft will replace existing planes. The airline is also planning to open a new direct route from Bangkok to Manchester, England.
Promotional sales campaigns will be launched to stimulate online spending by members of Royal Orchid Plus, the airline's loyalty programme.
