Nok Air ready to cooperate with Thai Airways
Nok Air CEO, Patee Sarasin stated it has realigned its strategic objectives and is "ready to cooperate again" with majority shareholder, Thai Airways (eTN, 01-Sep-09). The carriers plan to coordinate on schedules, distribution, marketing, loyalty programmes and package holidays. Mr Sarasin added the carrier has become profitable again and aims to carry over 2 million passengers in 2009. The carrier plans to focus on expanding domestically in the short term and will take delivery of three new aircraft as part of these plans, for a fleet of ten B737-400s.
Nok Air: "We have definitely buried the hatchet with Thai Airways, as we are not in position to fight in the current environment. It is true that we had difficulties in the past to cooperate as we lacked a common vision. Thai Airways is an airline which is a State company and where politics play an important role. The problem is that we had to discuss all the time with new partners and it is then hard to keep up the same policy. But with the arrival of Wallop Bhukkanasut, chairman of the executive board committee, we have now a strong stable partner to discuss and we agreed on many issues." Patee Sarasin, CEO. Source: eTN, 01-Sep-09.