Thai Airways International lost its president and the director of Bangkok’s main airport on the same day, as the coronavirus’ toll on air travel caught up with the two executives who had become the public faces of the country’s outbreak response.
Sumeth Damrongchaitham stepped down as president of Thai Airways on Thursday, according to an official letter the airline sent to the Stock Exchange of Thailand. The letter said he would leave his post immediately. Thai media reported that Sumeth quit over what was described as a “lack of assistance from the Ministry of Transport in containing the virus.”
Sutheerawat Suwannawat, director of Suvarnabhumi Airport, resigned the same day. He had faced criticism over the airport’s handling of the outbreak, and Thai media reported that he was disheartened by a refusal from other agencies, including immigration, health and military authorities, to cooperate in screening arriving passengers. Reports said face masks intended for staff who screen travellers had been taken away and handed to other government bodies.
Airports of Thailand, which runs the gateway, gave a narrower account of Sutheerawat’s departure. Its chief said the resignation followed an incident in which 80 undocumented workers returning from South Korea slipped past a checkpoint at the airport. Almost all of the 80 later turned themselves in.
The airline was already in a difficult position. Thai Airways and its subsidiary reported a 2019 loss of 12.017 billion baht, worse than in 2018. Revenue reached 184.046 billion baht, 7.7 per cent lower, a shortfall of 15.454 billion baht from the prior year. Spending of 196.47 billion baht came in 5.4 per cent lower, at 12.088 billion baht less than in 2018, while the bill for oil shrank by 9 per cent, about 5.421 billion baht.
The carrier had also been criticised over how it treated at-risk passengers, and its margins had been badly squeezed for months as the virus spread. Both the airline and the airport were left to find new leadership at the same time.
Sources
- Thai Airways president resigns – Thai Enquirer
- Heads Of Thai Airways And Bangkok Airport Resign Over Government's Botched Response To Coronavirus
