Thai Airways announced it is renting three more planes and hiring 600 more staff this year as part of its restructuring plans.
After cutting costs, selling stock, chasing debts, and distributing plane seats, Thai Airways’ turnover rate in the third quarter of this year is expected to increase. Not only that, the President of the Reorganisation Committee, Piyasawad Amranan, says he expects the company to be back in black within the next two years.
Piyasawad added that Thai Smile Airways, a subsidiary of Thai Airways, has seen an increase in passengers. He said the number of passengers is at about 80% of the pre-Covid days.
The president said Thai Airways needed more personnel, especially ground staff, in response to the increasing number of passengers. So, he made known that they would outsource 600 staff to fill vacancies in the ground service area, cargo department, and kitchen. The number of company staff will be raised to 15,000 next year.
Piyasavat added that Thai Airways had 68 aircraft and would rent another three in preparation for China reopening. He revealed that China would accept flights from Thailand next month, but only 15 flights per week at the moment.
The company is also expecting more travellers from India, and European countries as Thailand approaches its high season from October to December.
Moreover, Thai Airways will resume direct flights from Bangkok to Milan and Bangkok to Oslo, by the end of this year or the beginning of next year, and increase flights from Bangkok to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia from four to seven flights per week.
Piyasavat believes Thai Airways will be back in black and on track by 2024 and end its reorganisation plan in 2025.