Budget battle lines drawn in Thailand
A battle between budget airlines in Thailand has been flagged by this week’s decision by the Thai Airways International board to approve the Thai Tiger Airways joint venture.
Subject to final government approvals, the airline says Thai Tiger could launch as early as May 2011.
Under the new ownership structure, THAI will hold 49.9% of Thai Tiger and employees of Thai Tiger, who are Thai citizens, would hold a collective 1.1% share, giving the airline 51%, while the balance of 39% will be held by Tiger Airways Holdings Limited, the budget carrier part-owned by Singapore Airlines, and 10% by Ryan Asia Limited.
The CEO of the new LCC will be Thai.
Thai Tiger Airways will compete with Jetstar Asia and Thai AirAsia, the region’s largest discount carrier, which already has a hub in the Thai capital and plans to list shares on the local stock exchange.
THAI president Piyasvasti Amranand said in August after the deal with Tiger was revealed, “Low-cost is the fastest-growing market and we want to take part in this market.
“We have been losing market share to low-cost airlines and we think there is a lot of opportunity for us.â€
Ian Jarrett
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