THAI cuts air fares in wake of floods

BANGKOK, November 30 (TNA) - Thai Airways International, the national flag carrier, has cut its air fares in several routes, as part of its short-term marketing strategies to raise its cabin factor, or the average number of its passengers per flight, as Thailand's flooding crisis has relieved. THAI President Piyasvasti Amranand confirmed that the strategy on the special campaign for air fare discount is considered necessary to immediately stimulate the national airline's cabin factor during the ongoing international high travelling season. According to the THAI president, the national flag carrier's cabin factor has remained low even though the flooding situation in some parts of Bangkok and peripheral provinces has greatly improved and several countries have no longer warned their citizens from travelling to Thailand. The THAI president acknowledged that the national airline's cabin factor in December, from confirmed advance bookings of air tickets, has slightly increased from its lower rate of 61 per cent last month, but it has remained below its standard benchmark, or at 70-75 per cent, for its year-end market share. (TNA)