How (not) to run an airline

EDITORIAL

Published: 23 Jan 2013 at 00.00
Newspaper section: News

New airline president Sorajak Kasemsuvan was given a rude call from workers at Thai Airways International on the weekend. He and his executives faced strikes and rolling walkouts by ground staff at Suvarnabhumi airport.

The workers claimed they were underpaid, in salary and bonuses. The airline executives claimed there was no legitimate complaint. The unpleasant and overriding fact is the airline mishandled the entire problem.

Arguably, no one was as wrong as Transport Minister Chadchat Sittipunt. While passengers fumed, and planes were delayed, Mr Chadchat claimed THAI workers were "damaging the airline but also the country's image". This was the wrong statement, made at the wrong time. If the minister had strong evidence the flight delays and baggage chaos were entirely the fault of airline workers, he failed to present it. In any case, it was hardly the time to defiantly begin finger-pointing.

This article is older than 60 days, which we reserve for our premium members only.You can subscribe to our premium member subscription, here.

Forum

Your comments

whatajoke
Post : 1,763
Send message

Discussion 10 : 23 Jan 2013 at 20.2910
Post this to my Facebook
You forgot to mention political fiddling, of which both sides are to blame, Thai has always been at the mercy of this.
Like dislike 1 people liked / 0 people disliked this comment
sibley
Post : 154
Send message

Discussion 9 : 23 Jan 2013 at 16.089
Post this to my Facebook
Hold on a minute when my baggage was delayed I was told it was because of a technical fault, that's another name for a strike in Thailand,
Like dislike 2 people liked / 0 people disliked this comment
rebel4ever
Post : 418
Send message

Discussion 8 : 23 Jan 2013 at 10.218
Post this to my Facebook
The answer is privatization. Keywords: Better and cheaper. Cutting off useless meat; making the company lean and mean... Yes, it will result in job losses at all levels, yes a lot of overstaffed management will lose their jobs or get salary cuts and yes their flying products and services will have to be upgraded. Otherwise, passengers will find other airlines, they do already and there is choice enough..
Like dislike 9 people liked / 0 people disliked this comment
Eric
Post : 1,161
Send message

Discussion 7 : 23 Jan 2013 at 09.217
Post this to my Facebook
Privatization is not the only panacea and in Thailand there are always lobby groups that are against that. Take EGAT or PTT as examples. Some of the world most profitable airlines are state owned like SIA and the fast improving Garuda. The problem for state owned airlines or other enterprises are the same everywhere in the world - over regulated, over staff, excessive political interference and poor management. Thai Airlines need to employ a professional who has years of airline experience and if it requires employment of a foreigner, government should take the bold step.
Like dislike 17 people liked / 1 people disliked this comment
jck
Post : 425
Send message

Discussion 6 : 23 Jan 2013 at 08.416
Post this to my Facebook
Of course the delays and baggage chaos were a direct result of the actions of theThai workers. However, their actions were based on their discontent of the inaction of the President and the Board of Directors. Fire the lot of them and start over as a private company.
Like dislike 24 people liked / 2 people disliked this comment
Victor
Post : 1,303
Send message

Discussion 5 : 23 Jan 2013 at 08.245
Post this to my Facebook
As I'd mentioned the other day (but did not get published), THAI should be looking into the possibility of using more contract labours, or out-sourcing, because it's getting too big to keep the efficiency up to the international standard. And it is also the right time for the management to speak about the unspeakable loop holes that have been draining this national carrier for quite some time.
Like dislike 26 people liked / 2 people disliked this comment
ringmaster
Post : 745
Send message

Discussion 4 : 23 Jan 2013 at 08.204
Post this to my Facebook
spiceman D3 I totally agree. I'm not holding my breath until that happens though.
Like dislike 20 people liked / 0 people disliked this comment
spiceman
Post : 3,480
Send message

Discussion 3 : 23 Jan 2013 at 07.293
Post this to my Facebook
Khun Ringmaster #1, the obvious economic solution is to privatize THAI, so it can be run professionally as a for-profit organization, instead of the current "Who knows what?"
Like dislike 48 people liked / 0 people disliked this comment
amerman
Post : 297
Send message

Discussion 2 : 23 Jan 2013 at 05.222
Post this to my Facebook
He should have fired them all and replaced them.
Like dislike 13 people liked / 30 people disliked this comment
ringmaster
Post : 745
Send message

Discussion 1 : 23 Jan 2013 at 02.461
Post this to my Facebook
Thai Airlines has been badly mismanaged for several years now. Failure by management and the Board of Directors. I don't know what the solution would be except for a complete overhaul of the entire company.
Like dislike 49 people liked / 1 people disliked this comment

How (not) to run an airline | Bangkok Post: opinion