Thai Airways management in turmoil
BANGKOK – Thai Airways made an abrupt about-face last night and scrapped a decision made earlier to suspend president Apinan Sumanaseni.
The Bangkok Post said protests by the THAI union and pilots forced THAI chairman Chaisawasd Kittipornpaiboon to announce late yesterday that no management change would be made at the national carrier.
He said he would take ”personal responsibility” for his decision to overrule the board decision made earlier yesterday to sideline Mr Apinan and appoint an acting president.
”After discussions with the THAI union and employees, I agree that a change at this time would only create additional confusion and uncertainty,” said Mr Chaisawasd, also the transport permanent secretary.
He said directors had thought to suspend Mr Apinan pending the president’s formal job review in September.
THAI directors yesterday afternoon had agreed to suspend Mr Apinan from his duties for poor performance and his inability to mend internal conflicts at the airline.
Norahuch Ployyai, an executive vice-president for the airline’s standards assurance and risk management department, was to be named acting president, otherwise known as ”DD” under the airline’s internal codes. Mr Apinan was to remain in his position, but be shifted to a non-management role, effective today.
The order prompted immediate resistance from line employees, who decried the move as politically motivated, despite denials by Mr Chaisawasd.
Mr Norahuch, a THAI employee since 1978, was a classmate of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra in Class 10 at the Armed Forces Academies Preparatory School.
”We need to make a change because THAI is facing a number of problems. Management remains weak and not in line with the board’s direction,” Mr Chaisawasd said yesterday afternoon.
Jamsri Sukchotirat, the chairman of the Thai Airways labour union, said the move was the ”wrong way to tackle the airline’s internal problems”.
”This is definitely politically motivated, given that Mr Norahuch is close to [Mr Thaksin]. It will only create greater problems and infighting within the organisation,” she said.
Another looming challenge for THAI is the futue of budget carrier, Nok air. Thai Airways was to officially inform Nok Air’s board of Thai’s future involvement in the budget carrier on July 4.
Ian Jarrett
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