THAI, affiliates to iron out joint management plan

Executives of Thai Airways International and its two affiliated airlines, Nok Air and THAI Smile, will meet this month to come up with a joint management and strategic plan which the airline says holds the key to its future in the region. The move is part of aviation business synergy efforts between the three airlines to compete efficiently in the industry. Flt Lt Montree Jumrieng, THAI's executive VP for corporate strategy and sustainable development, said the idea is to create joint management for the three carriers. The cooperation would include flight routes and shared resources, such as marketing campaigns, ground services, parking bays, and aircraft maintenance services, he said. The approach would help ensure the effective management of operation costs, he said. The carrier's wholly owned airline THAI Smile would serve passengers flying to both Indochina and domestic destinations. Nok Air, which is 39% owned by THAI, will focus on short-haul domestic flights. "In the future, the three airlines would form an aviation network," said Flt Lt Montree, adding the trio are required to deliver transiting passengers to each other. <br/>