BANGKOK, THAILAND – Flag carrier Thai Airways sharply reduced its May flight schedule, cutting more than 46 routes as demand weakened amid high ticket prices.
Thai Airways pulls the emergency brake
The airline faced falling passenger numbers on several key routes. Services to Singapore, Japan and India were affected, while domestic flights to Udon Thani and Khon Kaen also came under pressure.
Chief executive Chai Eamsiri said at the Ministry of Transport that the carrier had to align its timetable with the weak demand. He stressed that the reductions were not permanent, but temporary adjustments limited to May.
Holidaymakers hold back on spending
Many travellers held on to their money because of economic uncertainty and high living costs. Aircraft often remained half empty, forcing the airline to take drastic steps.
Instead of operating daily, Thai Airways flew some routes only five times per week. The company also deployed smaller aircraft to reduce the costs of underfilled flights.
Fuel prices surge
Rising kerosene prices put heavy pressure on the company. The price of a barrel of fuel at times jumped from 90 to as much as 240 US dollars.
Although prices eased slightly, they remained around twice as high as usual. This forced the airline into extremely cautious management of its finances and ticket pricing.
Crisis unit tracks every flight
A situation centre was set up at the airline’s headquarters in Bangkok. Experts there monitored daily how many seats on each flight were occupied.
If tourist interest suddenly rose again, the carrier aimed to react quickly. Flight frequencies could be increased at any time during peak travel periods.
New hope in cargo and parcels
With fewer passengers on board, more space in the aircraft holds became available for goods. The airline hoped to earn new revenue by transporting high‑value products and medicines.
Despite the crisis, the leadership stuck to its plans to purchase new aircraft. In the long term, Thai Airways aimed to remain stable, even as wars in the Middle East unsettled the entire aviation industry.