Stories tagged with budget
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Bangkok streets return to normal
All was calm on the streets of Bangkok by Wednesday evening after the army brought the situation under control and dispersed rampaging protestors who had brought anarchy to the capital.
Bangkok is now considered safe to travel to, although several countries have yet to lift their travel advisory warnings for Thailand. The situation remains tense but the prostests have been called off, the streets have been cleared and the risk of violence has been greatly minimised.
The State of Emergency remains, declared on Sunday evening after red shirted supporters of exiled pariah Thaksin Shinawatra forced the cancellation of the ASEAN+3 summit in Pattaya. After storming the venue, they turned their attention to Bangkok, where 10,000 of them blockaded key intersections and violently brought the city to a standstill demanding the resignation of the government.
A peaceful quiet descended on the city Wednesday evening after a tense standoff between soldiers and the protestors throughout Tuesday, as 50 companies of soldiers gradually dispersed the crowds. Finally the leaders of the protest turned themselves in Wednesday morning and called off the protest, urging their ranks to return home.
A small group of die-hard supporters mustered at Sanam Luang, near Khao San Road, refusing to go home, but were under close guard from the military. Armoured personnel continue to preside of key parts of the city to prevent further trouble.
Meanwhile the airport remained busy and the annual Songkran festivities continued on Khao San Road and Silom avenue without hindrance or fear. Sporadic protests continue upcountry but are considered of no risk to tourists.
Breaking news from The Nation Newspaper
Posted by: Andrew on 16 Apr 2009, 18:46 -
Budget carriers to remain at Don Mueang Airport
Thai low-cost carriers Nok Airlines and One-Two-Go Airlines will be allowed to continue using Don Mueang Airport in Bangkok as a base even though the Transport Ministry prefers the newer Suvarnabhumi Airport be used for all scheduled flights, it has been reported.
The acting president of Airports of Thailand (AoT), Serirat Prasutanond, confirmed the decision that the two budget airlines would not be required to move their operations from the 94-year-old airport, although the ministry does have a "single airport'' policy for Bangkok.
"They certainly can stay (at Don Mueang). We have never said we would close Don Mueang,'' the official said, in comments quoted in the Bangkok Post. He went on to say that the AoT policy for Don Mueang for it to serve non-connecting, scheduled domestic services, and charter and private flights remains unchanged.
A committee chaired by the former permanent secretary of the Transport Ministry, Srisuk Chandrangsu, had earlier recommended that regular commercial flights be discontinued at Don Mueang.
The committee’s recommendation made it easier for Thai Airways to move all of its operations to Suvarnabhumi, helping the national carrier reduce operating costs.
Posted by: Andrew on 07 Mar 2009, 09:26 -
One-Two-Go airline set to resume flights
After passing a number of strict safety and operating tests given by the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA), the budget carrier One-Two-Go looks set to resume flights sometime in November. The airline was grounded by the DCA a year ago after a tragic crash in Phuket and revelations that some of their pilots were not qualified. Further investigations revealed that the carrier operated below-standard safety standards and had poor management.
But the airline’s founder Udom Tantiprasongchai has confirmed that his company received the Air Operator Certificate from the DCA and would begin flying as soon as possible. The first flights One-Two-Go plans to resume are its domestic trunk routes from Bangkok to Chiang Mai and Bangkok to Phuket.
Udom told reporters the airline is thinking about switching to Boeing 737s in the future. It currently flies MD80 jetliners, which are becoming outdated. Udom admits that this isn’t the best time to return to the skies as Thailand battles its political tensions and a global economic crisis. "We can't really count on the forthcoming high season to recoup lost business if the situation in Thailand remains disastrous as it is," Udom said.
Posted by: Andrew on 12 Oct 2008, 03:56 -
Nok Air Latest Thai Carrier to Scale Back Operations
Reflecting the ongoing escalation of fuel costs and inflation, Nok Air announced that it was cutting back both its fleet of aircraft and its staff. In an attempt to survive the recent fuel hikes in Thailand, flights were being reduced by 25 per cent and unprofitable routes dropped altogether.
Just as Thailand’s low-cost carriers were picking up steam, the global price of oil has brought them crashing back to earth. Nok Air is the latest budget airline to downsize its operations to help cope with the fuel hikes.
As oil reached US$146 a barrel, Nok Air CEO Patee Sarasin said the airline could no longer absorb the impact of these high prices. “Every single dollar increased per barrel of oil is adding up to five million baht on our operation cost,” he stated.
To help the popular Thai budget carrier survive, Sarasin said that shareholders and board members of the company had approved a survival package which is now in effect. Under the new plan, all staff of Nok Air will have their salaries cut by 20 to 25 per cent, even pilots and supervisors. Nok Air will also cut back its flights from 108 to 73 per week, and operate only from its most profitable domestic routes: Chiangmai, Udon Thani, Hat Yai, Trang and Nakhon Sri Thammarat.
Posted by: Andrew on 25 Jul 2008, 03:53 -
Air crash airline suspends operation
One-2-Go, the budget airline involved in the Phuket air disaster last October, will stop flying on Tuesday July 22nd for six weeks. The decision is based mainly on the rising cost of jet fuel amid stiff competition, as well as the looming law suits from its air crash that left 79 dead.
Described as financial restructuring for ‘damage control’ by CEO Udom Tantiprasongchai, the suspension will ground all eight MD80 jets that currently fly the Bangkok to Chiang Mai and Bangkok to Phuket routes. These ageing and noisy aircraft are particularly fuel inefficient and it has taken its toll on the five year old budget carrier.
The airline is suffering from loss during advanced sales of tickets, as fuel surcharges have been rising by the week this year, making it difficult for them to compete with AirAsia and Nok Air. Their tickets are typically 15 per cent more expensive.
The news comes just days after a US law firm announced it was leading a class action lawsuit against the airline and its insurance underwriter for failing to adequately compensate victims of the Sept 18 2007 air disaster that resulted from a crash landing in poor weather. The airline has already been sued in Thailand, the US and Britain.
It was launched in 2003 as a budget subsidiary of the small Thai airline Orient Thai, which continues to fly to Hong Kong and Incheon, in addition to charter services. No clear announcement has been made about its 700 staff or compensation for advance ticket sales, the usual booking service on their website having been replaced by a single notice of suspension.
Orient Thai website Contact numbers: (66) 2 229 4260
Posted by: Andrew on 21 Jul 2008, 06:26 -
Korean Air to launch low-cost airline
The reputable South Korean airline Korean Air announced Monday that it will open a budget airline called Air Korea next year.
With a capital of 21.5 million dollars already paid, Air Korea will aim to be the top budget carrier in Asia by 2012.
Air Korea will target travelers planning short holidays, with the initial routes running to Thailand, Japan, China and Malaysia. The company will expand the list of routes once the initial launch is established.
Budget airlines are rapidly gaining popularity in Southeast Asia, providing travelers with an affordable means to visit neighboring countries.
Posted by: Zoe on 03 Dec 2007, 12:32