Thai Airways has extended its suspension of international flights until the end of June, the carrier said in a statement.
“Following the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) announcement prohibiting international flights into Thailand until 30 June 2020, Thai Airways International Public Company Limited (THAI) has to suspend operations for one more month in June 2020,” Thai Airways said.
The announcement also follows several media reports that emerged yesterday saying that Thailand’s government plans to submit a rehabilitation plan for the carrier to a bankruptcy court.
According to a report from Reuters, this replaces a previous rescue plan which involved the airline seeking a 58.1 billion baht ($1.81 billion) loan from the government to help it through the coronavirus crisis.
“The State-Enterprise Planning Office agreed in principle for the rehabilitation of Thai Airways in court … the procedure will be submitted to cabinet tomorrow,” government spokeswoman Narumon Pinyosinwat said, according to the Reuters report.
Yesterday, the airline responded to the media reports in a statement. It said that “it has no intention to file for bankruptcy” and that a “reform plan has been approved by Thai Board of Directors on 17 April 2020 and presented to the State Enterprise Policy Office for consideration on 29 April 2020″.
The carrier said in its statement that the resumption of flights in July “is still under consideration”.
“Thai is monitoring the situation, preventive measures and lockdowns of each country as well as travel demand closely in order to resume services as the Covid-19 situation improves. Thai have measures in place in preparation for the resumption of passenger service. The official schedule will be announced later,” said Thai Airways.
