New executive board chairman wants to change Thai Airways ethics

This is what it was surprising to learn that he finally accepted to return as the chairman of the Executive Board. Asked why he finally accepted the offer to return, he said that the challenge was great and he felt excited about it.

Mr. Bhukkanasut is indeed an extremely capable person and possesses typical Thai personality: he is very outspoken and dares to tell what most Thai people would skip with a smile. His frankness would be seen as an asset in the Western world but most probably considered as a weakness in Thailand.

According to him, he was assured to have the freedom to take decisions in driving Thai Airways out of the deep crisis the airline it is currently embattling. " I told to the Board that I would resign immediately if I can't do what is necessary," he said.

Many ways of doing business will then have to be changed. Thai Airways is plagued with a long tradition of nepotism, which has translated into inflated costs and the largest number of staff of any airline in Southeast Asia. Thai Airways currently has 27,000 employees compared to 16,000 up to 19,000 employees for its biggest competitors Cathay Pacific, Malaysia Airlines or Singapore Airlines.

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