Thai Transport Minister backs Thai Tiger startup

Thailand's Transport Minister ACM Sukampol Suwannathat backed a Thai Airways' plan to launch LCC start up Thai Tiger (Bangkok Post, 15-Aug-2011). The minister also expressed his support for another plan by the carrier to launch a wholly-owned sister airline, tentatively called Thai Wings, which would operate domestic and regional routes. ACM Sukampol said he would have to look into details of both plans first but he anticipated no problems if they were backed by sound business principles. Any legal obstacles could later be removed, he said, referring to the Civil Aviation Department's (CAD) recent refusal to approve Thai's request to establish Thai Tiger Airways as a joint venture with Tiger Airways.