Thai Airways International Flights Confirmed in Service to Mae Hong Son, Nakorn Sri Thammarat, & Krabi

Thai Airways International Public Company Limited provided clarification on reports that a THAI pilots representative had petitioned about airports in Mae Hong Son, Nakorn Sri Thammarat, and Krabi not meeting standards. Furthermore, it was stated that if the airport standards problem was not corrected, there would be no operated flights to those airports.

Mr. Kanok Abhiradee, THAI’s President, clarified that the airline’s Flight Operations Management held a meeting with the pilots representative to discuss the issue addressed in the petition in order to reach a better understanding and consider alternative measures. Following the meeting, it was concluded that representatives from THAI’s Flight Operations working group and the Department of Aviation would inspect conditions at the 3 airports next week, in order to decide what improvements may be needed to improve airport standards. 

Having reached a mutual agreement at the aforementioned meeting, the pilots representative agreed that flights would be operated to the 3 airports as regularly scheduled. THAI also announced that beginning 11 February 2003 onwards, the airline would change the aircraft type utilized in order to meet passenger demand for travel to Mae Hong Son. ATR aircraft will be operated  on flights to Mae Hong Son Airport on the sector Chiang Mai-Mae Hong Son at 3 flights per day, while the Boeing 737-400 will remain in operation on this sector at 1 flight per day.

In addition, THAI announced that its domestic codeshare partners have agreed to cooperate on operating flights to Mae Hong Son.