(Photo
by Nopniwat Krailerg)
The demonstration took place as Somchainuk Engtrakul, CEO
of Thai Airways International, Vasing Kittikul, executive vice president of
the Commercial Department, and Piya Yodmanee, CEO of Nok Air traveled to Mae
Hong Son where they met with governor Direk Konkleep at city hall.
Somchainuk said that high fuel costs were costing the
company an extra 1,200 million baht a year, and therefore air routes that
were losing money had to be canceled.
Mae Hong Son MP Panya Jeenakham appealed to Thai Airways
to continue flying the Chiang Mai-Mae Hong Son route because the link had
been maintained with the province for 60 years and was part of the
community.
Besides, said Panya, residents trusted Thai Airways more
than other airlines. If this air route was transferred, it might affect Mae
Hong Son tourism and have other consequences.
Piya said that Nok Air was a new airline that residents
were not used to, but the company would build up trust and good
relationships given time.
The meeting lasted for three hours and at the end
Somchainuk declared that to prevent any conflict, Thai Airways would
continue to maintain the route with three flights per day. During the high
season, five flights per day would be provided but this would not be within
the current year.
Nok Air will provide one flight per day increasing to
four flights a day to support tourists during the high season.
Thai Airways will adjust the ticket price from 1,170 to 1,300 baht to
reflect the increased fuel costs. The resolution satisfied all and the
protesters disbanded.
