TRAVEL SECURITY; THAI ready to isolate Bangkok

BANGKOK - Thai Airways International is taking steps to stem ticket cancellations and revive demand which has been badly hit by Thailand's escalating political turmoil.

The airline is considering steps such as fare discounts, letting ticket holders bound for Thailand switch to other destinations within the airline's network with minimal fees, and offering international flights directly to Thai destinations outside Bangkok. The impact is heaviest on THAI's inbound passenger flow to Bangkok, where numbers have fallen by about 6,000 a day from the level in April 2008, said THAI president Piyasvasti Amranand.

Among the measures being put to THAI's senior management meeting is a proposal to give international passengers with tickets for Bangkok a choice to travel to other cities within the airline's network such as Singapore or Bali. A minimal fee would be charged for switching destinations and the offer would last until July.

"This is an important step to at least keep customers who have already bought our tickets, to keep our cashflow, instead of refunding the tickets,'' said the airline executive. THAI may also introduce non-stop flights directly linking, say, Phuket with Seoul, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Tokyo.

The idea is to bypass Bangkok to fly travellers to less troubled centres.

Source: Travel Mole Asia