Thai Airways to merge with Thai Smile to ‘reduce losses’

Thai Airways is to merge with Thai Smile to “reduce losses.” The plan is expected to be approved by the end of this year.

Piyasvasti Amranand, chairman of THAI’s committee overseeing the airline’s rehabilitation, said the restructuring had been on the cards for a while and had always been part of the plan.

“A study about the merger plan is now underway to revise the business plan under a unified strategy management team. We expect this to finish by May.”

The plan will be proposed to a creditors’ committee before it is submitted to Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob for approval by year’s end.

The restructuring strategy aims to unite all subsidiaries into a single operation comprising the central management office, staff, cabin crews, pilots and back-office systems to reduce fixed costs and operating expenses. The company also hopes to achieve greater efficiency…