PLANE

Thai Airways

The Thai major and national company is Thai Airways, the airways company with a lotus drawn on the planes. Air hostess are always dressed in beautiful Thai clothes. Advertisement says "Smooth as silk". Thai Airways uses Airbus planes and Boeing planes. Thai Airways is known as a safe company. Last accident was in 1998 when a plane crashed during rain season in Surat Thani.

Thai Airways aircrafts are blessed by senior monks. All planes have a Thai name written under the cockpit. For the 72^nd birthday of the King Rama 9, many Thai Airways planes have been decorated with beautiful paintings.

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said Thai Airways International is living on its reputation and is now among the worst of its breed. In may 2001 he said that "If I were not a public figure, I wouldn’t fly with THAI. It sucks. Business class on other airlines is better than THAI’s first class. Our fares are also higher. If THAI flights are unavailable and I must take other airlines, I am very happy." He said the airline is uncompetitive and will have to dilute its shares before it goes public.

	In airports there are even areas reserved for monks. In Bangkok International airport, those areas are surrounded by orchids.
Monks

Another company is Bangkok Airways, a local and international (Asia only) company on some destinations such as Koh Samui, Luang Prabang, Siam Reap. In year 2003, lost cost airlines companies (Nok, Air Asia, Orient Thai) appear. They offer less service (no food during flight...) but give a cheaper price.

Bangkok's new international airport or Suvarnabhumi airport will finally open in year 2006. The plan was to expand the new airport to enable it to process 45 million passengers annually.

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