BANGKOK, THAILAND – Institutional investors are offloading a significant portion of their holdings in Thai Airways International on Thursday, coinciding with the airline’s announcement to suspend dozens of routes across Asia.
565 Millionen Aktien zum Discountpreis
Approaching 565 million shares of Thai Airways International are set for market release on June 18th, priced at 6 Baht each. This block is being offered at a discount of approximately 7.69 percent below the current market value. UBS is acting as the lead underwriter for this substantial transaction. International investors will have the opportunity to participate in the deal, which totals roughly 3.39 billion Baht. Market observers view this sale as an initial stress test for investor sentiment toward the airline, which has recently undergone restructuring.
FĂ¼nf Kreditgenossenschaften verkaufen
The sale is driven by five institutional shareholders: the credit cooperatives of the Electricity Generating Authority, Thammasat University, Mahidol University, Aeronautical Radio, and the Metropolitan Waterworks Authority. This divestment occurs despite a notable rise in the airline’s stock price, which had gained approximately 9.24 percent in the past month alone. The market will soon see whether demand can absorb the significant supply pressure.
Treibstoffkosten fressen Ă¼ber die Hälfte der Ausgaben
Simultaneously, Thai airlines are grappling with escalating operational expenses. Fuel costs have surged dramatically, now accounting for over 50 percent of total expenditures, a sharp increase from the roughly 30 percent previously. The conflict in the Middle East is cited as the primary catalyst, leading to tighter energy markets and more than a threefold increase in fuel prices.
THAI streicht FlĂ¼ge nach Indien, Taiwan und Japan
Thai Airways has announced extensive network reductions. The Bangkok–New Delhi route (TG335/TG336) will be suspended for the entirety of June. Additionally, the Bangkok–Kaohsiung service (TG630/TG631) will experience disruptions on multiple days. Flights to Sapporo (TG670/TG671) and Hong Kong (TG638/TG639) are also on the chopping block. The most severe impact will be felt on the Changsha route, with flights TG694 and TG695 suspended from June 1st until the end of September, marking one of the longest operational pauses of the year.
Thai Lion Air kappt China-Netzwerk
Thai Lion Air is suspending its flights from Don Mueang to Shenzhen for a significant portion of June, with the Tianjin route extended until July. Datong, Hefei, Jinan, and Nanchang services have been completely discontinued, and Linyi will remain suspended until September 30th. The route to Amritsar will be paused until August 31st, while Xi’an will see its service suspended from June 2nd to July 2nd, with a single exception on June 21st. Bengaluru, Delhi, Surabaya, and Kathmandu will now operate with reduced frequencies.
Massive Einschnitte auf Langstrecken
The route from Don Mueang to Taipei and Nagoya will see a complete cessation of traffic from July 6th to July 31st. Previously, Thai Lion Air operated this service three times daily, representing a drastic reduction in capacity. The Phuket–Singapore route will be suspended from June 3rd to August 1st, after which it will operate at only two flights per week, down from four. Airlines are prioritizing resources for profitable routes and scaling back on less lucrative destinations.
Europäische Behörden warnen vor Kerosinengpässen
Concerns about fuel availability are extending beyond Asia, with European authorities issuing warnings about potential jet fuel shortages in the coming weeks. For Thai airlines, already contending with seasonal lulls and high costs, this adds another layer of uncertainty. Carriers are maintaining capacity on strategic routes and plan to ramp up services once prices stabilize.
Ein Test fĂ¼r den ganzen Luftfahrtsektor
The stock placement serves as an indicator not only for Thai Airways but for the broader aviation industry. High fuel costs, route consolidations, and supply chain risks are defining the current landscape. Airlines maintain they are prepared to resume full operations once demand rebounds and kerosene prices recede. Thursday’s trading will show if investors are confident in this outlook.