The Transport Ministry of Thailand has called on Thai Airways International to enhance its domestic flight offerings and introduce new international routes to secondary destinations that are popular among foreign tourists. This suggestion emerged during a recent meeting held between Deputy Transport Minister Phattrapong Phattraprasit and executives from THAI, as reported by deputy government spokeswoman Lalida Persvivatana on Sunday.
The discussions centered on optimizing the use of local airports, with an emphasis on the flag carrier’s role in facilitating travel to lesser-known tourist spots. Currently, THAI operates flights to various destinations including Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Khon Kaen, Ubon Ratchathani, Udon Thani, Hat Yai, Krabi, and Phuket, as per details available on its website.
As part of the initiative, the government has expressed a desire for the airline to increase its services to Krabi and Ubon Thani, while also adding Nakhon Si Thammarat to its flight list, according to Ms. Lalida. Furthermore, THAI is being encouraged to establish international routes from Malaysia, Singapore, and Hong Kong to regional airports such as Krabi, Surat Thani, and Hua Hin. This aligns with the government’s policy to enhance air connectivity between major cities and secondary destinations to boost tourism and economic development.
The management of most small airports in Thailand falls under the Airports Department, which operates under the Transport Ministry, while ten larger international airports are managed by Airports of Thailand Plc. Although Thai Airways is no longer classified as a state enterprise, the Finance Ministry retains a 38.90% ownership stake in the airline.
Source: Bangkok Post
