Thai Airways reports improved load factor

Thai Airways has seen a faster recovery of passenger numbers on its flights than expected, following the closure of Bangkok’s airports by demonstrators late last year, due in part to some improvements in the country’s image abroad.

The country’s flag carrier filled 75 per cent of its seats in January after a serious slump in December when Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports in Bangkok were seized and closed for a week by anti-government protestors, stranding hundreds of thousands of tourists.

“Our January load factor was much better than expected. We did not think earlier it would ever hit 70%,” said the airline’s executive vice-president, Pandit Chanapai.

An improved political landscape, price promotions by the airline and a new campaign mounted by the Tourism Authority of Thailand were credited with reducing the impact of the upheaval caused by the airport closures.

The airline executive said that the load factor had improved despite the decline in global air travel demand.

Thai Airways had to cancel over a thousand flights when the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) occupied the two main Bangkok airports from 25 November to 4 December, demanding the removal of the government.

The closure of the Bangkok airports cost Thai Airways approximately 20 billion baht in revenue losses.

Thanks to www.bangkokpost.com for the above quotes, for more information on this article please visit their website.

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