Thai Airways expecting to achieve a positive financial result for 2009

Thai Airways expects to achieve a positive financial result for 2009, after performing "better than expected" throughout the year (Bangkok Post, 19-Dec-2009). Chairman, Ampon Kittiampon, stated EBITDA for the 11 months to Nov-2009 beat its USD782.6 million target. Yields also improved in Nov-2009, up 10.5% year-on-year. Capacity (ASKs) and traffic (RPKs) were also 4.4% and 1.1% higher, respectively, than the carrier's targets for Nov-2009. Mr Kittiampon attributed the performance to Thai's business rehabilitation plan, stating the carrier needs to continue with the plan to continue to cost costs.

Thai Airways: "Today marks a turnaround for THAI. We're back on our feet…All in all we now have a stable financial standing, cashflow is in a safety range, load factor, cargo and passenger volumes are on the rise," Ampon Kittiampon, Chairman. Source: Bangkok Post, 19-Dec-2009.