Some one plz tell them to upgrade their IFE on Boeing 777-300,s which they use for flights to India. The days of projectors are gone its time for the personalised tv screens. I guess then they would be able to compete with SQ in a much better way.

There was an interesting article I read today, that NOK air (TG subsidiary) has postponed service on BKK - BLR to next Feb. The reason quoted is "lack of required clearance from BLR airport authorities".

What I found surprising was that TG/NOK were planning their second service to BLR. I dont' think TG was planning to withdraw, otherwise NOK could have used the existing slots.

I guess it will be good to have a second service to BKK, especially if it is better timed with TG's JFK and LAX non-stop flights! Can't wait for NOK to start to BLR!

Isnt Nok Air supposed to be the LCC subsidy of TG?

http://www.bangkokpost.com/Business/22Nov2006_biz53.php
TG set to add more Indian destinations
Explosive demand makes move essential

BOONSONG KOSITCHOTETHANA

Hyderabad, India _ Having recently started serving Hyderabad and offering seasonal flights to Bodhgaya and Varanasi, Thai Airways International (TG) is considering plans to add more Indian cities such as Amritsar and Jaipur to its growing subcontinental network.

Vutichai Kampanartsanyakorn, THAI's general manager in charge of India, stands in front of Chaminar, a 400-year-old landmark in Hyderabad, which these days is known as the hub of India's second Silicon Valley after Bangalore.

The introduction of additional destinations in India is regarded as essential for TG, not only to cash in on the country's booming air traffic demand, both for business and leisure travel, but to compete with other international carriers flocking into India's semi-opened skies and India's own fledging airlines.

Like China, India offers a huge business potential for airlines. Even if only 10% of India's 1.1-billion population fly once a year, it will mean a staggering 100-million-plus passengers and a requirement for at least 2,000 planes.

Though the revenue tally does not look outstanding on its ledger, India has been one of the most lucrative markets for the national carrier, after China and Japan.

TG is not new to India and has been flying from Bangkok to Delhi and Calcutta (Kolkata) for more than 40 years.

But it was only six years ago that the airline was able to really add new routes to Bombay (Mumbai), followed by Chennai and Bangalore three years ago, as Indian civil aviation started to slowly allow more traffic rights to foreign carriers partly to meet fast-growing demand spurred by its economic surge.

Today, TG operates 36 flights per week from Bangkok to eight Indian destinations.

A key part of TG's strategy for the sub-continent operation zeroes in on the onward traffic demand, feeding passengers originating from India, a nation famous for its fondness for travel, to its global network through Bangkok.

That is on top of tourist traffic on both Thailand and India. Thailand is known as a shopping paradise among ordinary Indians and traders and a preferred holiday destination for them.

But Indians seemed to be more interested in travelling to Thailand than the other way round, which explains why some 300,000 Indians land in the kingdom every year, while only 30,000 Thais go to the world's largest democracy.

TG is a preferred airline among Indians for its inflight services and aircraft condition, enabling it to charge higher fares than India's two merging state-owned carriers, Air India and Indian (formerly Indian Airlines).

The consolidation to create the eighth largest airline in Asia Pacific could mean tougher competition for TG and other international carriers in the coming years for TG and others.

The introduction of direct service from Bangkok to Hyderabad, India's fifth-largest city, on Oct 30, underscored TG's move to tap the growing business travel and emerging in-bound tourism traffic.

Vutichai Kampanartsanyakorn, TG's general manager in charge of the Indian operation, said Hyderabad, the capital city of Andhra Pradesh State, offered least business risk for TG, yet had significant potential for growth, especially among travellers whose works in the IT industry.

Hyderabad, the airline's sixth destination in India, has been referred to as the second Silicon Valley of India after Bangalore. IT exports from Hyderabad's high-technology industry were estimated to have exceeded $2.5 billion in the year to February 2006.

THAI expects to fill 60% of its cabins on the Bangkok-Hyderabad route with corporate travellers, primarily IT professionals and personnel, many of whom continue their journeys to the US, Europe, Australia and Asia through the airline's Bangkok hub for business and leisure.

The remaining 40% of the anticipated load will be those on leisure or pilgrimage purposes, as well as students.

The Thai national carrier will also promote Hyderabad, in particular, and Andhra Pradesh, in general, as part of the Buddhist circuit. There are over 50 Buddhist sites in the southern Indian state.

Hyderabad is regarded as a more permanent destination for TG than Bodhgaya and Varanasi, the Indian cities that hold special meaning for Buddhist faith, where TG started offering three flights a week on Oct 30 and last only until March 24.

Serving Hyderabad is a strategic move to compete with international carriers such as Emirates, Lufthansa, Malaysia Airlines and Sri Lankan Airlines.

Less than one month after its inauguration to Hyderabad, TG is already thinking about increasing the capacity and frequency to the capital city to capitalise on more of the traffic potential.

Offering more frequencies will appeal to corporate travellers who seek greater convenience and flexibility in their travel.

Mr Vutichai said the airline might increase the frequency on the Bangkok-Hyderabad service to five flights a week in April next year, from three at moment, and use the larger Airbus 330, with carries about 300 passengers, to replace the smaller A300-600.

 

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2006/12/15/stories/2006121505621000.htm
Thai Air plans direct flight from Pune
Our Bureau

Hyderabad , Dec. 14

Thai Airways has put Pune and Amritsar on its radar for launching its services. The airline is planning to launch a direct flight to Bangkok from Pune soon.

At present, the airline operates 14 flights a week to eight Indian destinations.

Mr Ruangyos Pamonmontri, the former Regional Director for India who has been recently appointed the head of Europe and Africa regions, said this. (In connection with the official opening of the airline's city office. It had recently launched services to Hyderabad along with Gaya and Varanasi.

It was planning to depute a team to Andhra Pradesh to prepare special packages, keeping in mind the rich Buddhist legacy here.