News Forum - Foreign airlines give up 80% of their slots at Thailand’s airports amid uncertainty of next 5 months

[Thaiger]

The managing director of Airports of Thailand says international carriers have returned around 80% of their slots at Thailand’s airports. Nitinai Sirisamatthakarn says around 80% of slots between October 31 and March 26 next year have been returned, indicating that airlines are uncertain about any imminent recovery in the aviation sector. Airport slots are the landing and take-off permissions that airport owners grant to airlines. Thailand’s 6 international airports – Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, Phuket. Hat Yai, Chiang Mai, and Chiang Rai – have all been affected by the move. At Bangkok’s Don Mueang, airlines have relinquished 100% of their slots, […]

The story Foreign airlines give up 80% of their slots at Thailand’s airports amid uncertainty of next 5 months as seen on Thaiger News.

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[Pompies]

Not only will they refuce frequency by 80% they will use smaller aircraft because they need high load factors to operate profitably. So in effect there will be no more than 15% of seats available at most, which means that in the unlikely event that overseas visitors wish to come here they will have to pay higher fares should they be able to find seats. The current Opening that the government keeps referring to is a mirage. It is fake news news because any visitor coming here will arrive to find an open graveyard and as such it will not meet the needs of harried westerners who are looking for a period of R&R. There are far better opportunities in the likes of Mediterranean, Carribean & central America destinations.

[Rebel]

Looks like the international airlines have more common sense than the Thai government  who thinks every turist wanna go to Thailand with all the hassle  it involves.  

 

[Fester]

Unfortunately, this looks to be a hard reality check for the TAT and Gov here. The airlines have already lost fortunes and cannot afford more indecision for their planning. 

[DoUKnowWhoIAm]

13 minutes ago, Rebel said:

Looks like the international airlines have more common sense than the Thai government  who thinks every turist wanna go to Thailand with all the hassle  it involves.  

If an airline ever done the mistake of trusting TATs fantasy numbers, theyll never do it again.

[Dedinbed]

44 minutes ago, Thaiger said:

managing director of Airports of Thailand says international carriers have returned around 80% of their slots 

no jackpots to be won this year then .. 

[M.O.]

It is a supply and demand thing. No demand means the supply dries up. With the decrease in travel restrictions demand will increase. Supply will inevitably follow.

100% given up at DMK! No wonder I could not get my favourite flight out from there!

[Poolie]

21 minutes ago, Pompies said:

Not only will they refuce frequency by 80% they will use smaller aircraft because they need high load factors to operate profitably. So in effect there will be no more than 15% of seats available at most, which means that in the unlikely event that overseas visitors wish to come here they will have to pay higher fares should they be able to find seats. The current Opening that the government keeps referring to is a mirage. It is fake news news because any visitor coming here will arrive to find an open graveyard and as such it will not meet the needs of harried westerners who are looking for a period of R&R. There are far better opportunities in the likes of Mediterranean, Carribean & central America destinations.

So you're not coming then?

Missing you already..............

[KaptainRob]

^ you're all missing the point.  Airlines have relinquished slots through non use as old schedules will never resume.

As air travel picks up they must book new slots to suit new timetables and aircraft type.  Eg Thai airasia has booked slots at BKK as that's where the connections will be required.  DMK is not yet viable.

[Shark]

Just now, KaptainRob said:

^ you're all missing the point.  Airlines have relinquished slots through non use as old schedules will never resume.

SPOT ON.

Anyways to be frank, this was to be expected as Thailand till January is playing "we don't know, we don't know" for yet another episode. On this uncertainty a Airline Op. will not rent the places (for a hefty price).

For what it's worth this can mean two things:

1. Op. whom keeps their slots will start jacking up the price.
2. The free fall to the bottom will start.

[Alan_Rothwell]

Will i ever get to play golf in Pattaya again?

[Stardust]

TAT always made their fantasy ans wish predictions and never used facts, not asking the operators or tourists what they want before they did their incompetent and headless actions. They are useless and brought more damage than anything else. A waste of tax payers money .

[riclag]

That’s a good indication that the outside world has very little confidence  over the recent news that the Thai Govt has moved to open up .

[longwood50]

1 hour ago, Thaiger said:

The managing director of Airports of Thailand says international carriers have returned around 80% of their slots at Thailand’s airports.

Now why would they do that when the Thai government is reporting that foreigners will flood into Thailand starting November 1 because all they have to endure is spending over 3,000 baht to be tested before departing, be fully immunized, get a Thailand pass, spend aother 3,000 baht or more for a second test upon arrival, then spend a luxurious night in quarantine before being able to enjoy all the tourist attractions and bars that are closed. 

[Poolie]

7 minutes ago, longwood50 said:

Now why would they do that when the Thai government is reporting that foreigners will flood into Thailand starting November 1 because all they have to endure is spending over 3,000 baht to be tested before departing, be fully immunized, get a Thailand pass, spend aother 3,000 baht or more for a second test upon arrival, then spend a luxurious night in quarantine before being able to enjoy all the tourist attractions and bars that are closed. 

Because they'll come at different times that they used to? New flight, new time. Note that there's no mention of new bookings. Typical press trick.

[RobMuir]

11 minutes ago, longwood50 said:

the Thai government is reporting that foreigners will flood into Thailand starting November 1

Do you have a link for that government report?

 

12 minutes ago, longwood50 said:

over 3,000 baht to be tested before departing,

Do you have a link for that price? 

I got my test for 200 baht to enter Phuket last week.

[Poolie]

59 minutes ago, Alan_Rothwell said:

Will i ever get to play golf in Pattaya again?

It would be tragedy of the highest order if you didn't.

Era defining.

[riclag]

25 minutes ago, longwood50 said:

Now why would they do that when the Thai government is reporting that foreigners will flood into Thailand starting November 1 because all they have to endure is spending over 3,000 baht to be tested before departing, be fully immunized, get a Thailand pass, spend aother 3,000 baht or more for a second test upon arrival, then spend a luxurious night in quarantine before being able to enjoy all the tourist attractions and bars that are closed. 

Spot on ! And may I add , more hoops ,if you test positive in the process while in country 

[vlad]

Its not hard to predict how many will be " Flooding " in as the TAT insist there is when you see major Airlines not booking slots for there Aircraft. The clever planners at these airlines will have decided how many accepted numbers are needed for cost and viability. Obviously they know there is no sufficient numbers to book slots for there Aircraft's into Thailand. The difference is there numbers are calculated TAT'S are not they just pluck em out and believe it will happen.  

[AlexPTY]

i love my slots too much to give up

[longwood50]

16 minutes ago, riclag said:

Spot on ! And may I add , more hoops ,if you test positive in the process while in country 

Honestly, what are the odds that a foreigner who has been fully inoculated has Covid.  The vaccines such as Pfizer are reportedly 96% effective in preventing contracting Covid.  So you have only 4% of the tourists who can even contract the disease.  Then what are the odds that of that 4% that they happen to contract Covid just before flying to Thailand.  

Next to Zero.  That 4% who potentially could catch Covid is far far far more likely to contact Covid from an unvaccinated Thai than the Thai from the foreigner. 

If you want tourists you make it easy and convenient to travel to your country.  If you don't want them you put up hoops for them to jump through.  One thing is for sure, if their intent is to try and encourage families traveling rather than single men, the burden of the multiple tests, and insurance will be such a high percentage of the cost of the vacation that they will be the one group who will not come. 

[Poolie]

So what percentage of the available slots are booked then?

If it's not an impertinent question?

 

 

[Changnam43]

50 minutes ago, RobMuir said:

Do you have a link for that government report?

Do you have a link for that price? 

I got my test for 200 baht to enter Phuket last week.

That 200 Baht is for a cheap, quick and unreliable test (ATK?). 

For entry from outside Thailand they require a PCR test which is a lot more expensive.  In fact it can cost way more than 3000 Baht in some European countries.

[Bob20]

As @KaptainRob said, most are missing the point.

Slots are sold (sometimes preferential or by tender) because there are a limited number of planes that can land at an airport (operating hours, noise- & airpollution, passenger capacity etc.)

The contracts have slowly expired over the Covid period. Airlines will still pay the landing fees and charges, but there is now no point to enter into expensive guaranteed reservations for slots while airports are nowhere close to their maximum capacity. 

[Jason]

While the airline industry can't "turn on a dime", things are rapidly changing. I think once airlines get bookings (and that's gearing up), they'll be buying up slots again.