Bruised THAI aims for the skies again

Thai Airways is aiming to resume its position as one of the world's top ten airlines after the completion of its rehabilitation process, the national flag carrier's executives said. The airline has planned to secure strategic partnerships with various private firms, including Thailand's largest energy conglomerate PTT Plc,<br/>as part of its business rehabilitation scheme. The carrier will tomorrow ask creditors to approve its revised rehabilitation plan which is a crucial stage for the airline's financial recovery. "There is likely not a problem [for the plan approval]. The plan is the way to rehabilitate the company's financial status and benefit the creditors," said Piyasvasti Amranand, chairman of THAI's committee overseeing the airline's rehabilitation plan. Piyasvasti said that THAI had slipped to be among the world's top 30 airlines as it entered into its rehabilitation process. This has all occurred amid the protracted Covid-19 pandemic which has considerably impacted the global airline business, he said. Piyasvasti admitted that entering a court rehabilitation process has<br/>affected the airline's operations and services, resulting in negative reviews from passengers about the airline. For example, he said, the company could not refund passenger tickets after its flights were unable to operate during the pandemic due to restricted conditions under its debt rehabilitation processes. But the company has seen business improve significantly, thanks to<br/>rebounding tourist arrivals and the reduction of costs due to business restructuring. Story has more.<br/>