Baggage scandal review ordered

[Admin]

Baggage scandal review ordered 
Bangkok Post: 15 Dec 2009
Korn orders TG to review '40 suitcases' allegations

The Thai Airways International board must conduct a thorough investigation into the baggage scandal surrounding its executive chairman, says Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij.

Wallop Bhukkanasut and his wife face allegations of evading excess baggage charges on up to 40 suitcases, thought to have contained fruit, when returning from a recent trip to Japan.

The luggage is thought to have weighed about 500 kilogrammes, an amount that would have been subject to excess weight charges totalling hundreds of thousands of baht.

They also allegedly bypassed customs controls by having their luggage delivered to the lost-and-found channel at Suvarnabhumi Airport.

Mr Korn said the THAI board should consider the matter not only in terms of the national carrier's own benefits but also of its public image.

The THAI labour union demanded an investigation into the matter and has filed a complaint with Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and Transport Minister Sohpon Zarum.

THAI, 51% owned by the Finance Ministry, reported losses of 4 billion baht in the third quarter, with nine-month losses totalling 1.57 billion.

Meanwhile, Customs Department officials said the lost-and-found channel at Suvarnabhumi was under the sole control of Thai Airways.

"Baggage passing through this channel generally doesn't have tags. It's definitely an avenue to evade customs checks and taxes," one official said.

"Another channel to bring in goods without passing through checkpoints is through the staff entrances."

Evading customs checkpoints at the airport has long been commonplace for senior politicians, well-connected VIPs and airline flight crews seeking to import luxury goods, wine and foods.

www.bangkokpost.com/business/economics/29278/korn-orders-tg-to-review-40-suitcases-allegations

[TBWG]

Baggage scandal review ordered 
Bangkok Post: 15 Dec 2009
Korn orders TG to review '40 suitcases' allegations

The Thai Airways International board must conduct a thorough investigation into the baggage scandal surrounding its executive chairman, says Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij.

Wallop Bhukkanasut and his wife face allegations of evading excess baggage charges on up to 40 suitcases, thought to have contained fruit, when returning from a recent trip to Japan.

The luggage is thought to have weighed about 500 kilogrammes, an amount that would have been subject to excess weight charges totalling hundreds of thousands of baht.

They also allegedly bypassed customs controls by having their luggage delivered to the lost-and-found channel at Suvarnabhumi Airport.

Mr Korn said the THAI board should consider the matter not only in terms of the national carrier's own benefits but also of its public image.

The THAI labour union demanded an investigation into the matter and has filed a complaint with Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and Transport Minister Sohpon Zarum.

THAI, 51% owned by the Finance Ministry, reported losses of 4 billion baht in the third quarter, with nine-month losses totalling 1.57 billion.

Meanwhile, Customs Department officials said the lost-and-found channel at Suvarnabhumi was under the sole control of Thai Airways.

"Baggage passing through this channel generally doesn't have tags. It's definitely an avenue to evade customs checks and taxes," one official said.

"Another channel to bring in goods without passing through checkpoints is through the staff entrances."

Evading customs checkpoints at the airport has long been commonplace for senior politicians, well-connected VIPs and airline flight crews seeking to import luxury goods, wine and foods.

www.bangkokpost.com/business/economics/29278/korn-orders-tg-to-review-40-suitcases-allegations

Thai Airways executive quits in excess baggage scandal


The executive chairman of Thai Airways has resigned over allegations that he exploited his position to evade at least $5,000 in excess baggage charges.

The executive, Wallop Bhukkanasut, stepped down after weeks of coverage of the case in the Thai media.

Reports said Mr Wallop and his wife got special treatment when they landed in Bangkok on a flight from Tokyo.

Some 30 cases belonging to them were apparently sent to the airport's lost property office, bypassing customs.

The resignation was announced by the airline's chairman, Ampon Kittiampon, who said Mr Wallop was leaving "to take responsibility for the excess baggage case".

According to Thai media reports, Mr Wallop, his wife and a friend had flown on first-class tickets which would have entitled them to a baggage allowance of 150kg.

However, their cases actually weighed 398kg.

The media said Mr Wallop claimed he was carrying fruit in the luggage, given to him by a friend based in Japan and intended for a temple in Bangkok.

The airline has launched an investigation into the incident, which happened in November. It is due to report its findings on 15 January.

Thai Airways is currently overhauling its management and business operations after reporting a loss of 21.3bn baht ($645m) in 2008.




TBWG

[nookiebear]

I worked in the Airline Industry for 37 years,,,,,,this is only the tip of the iceberg,,,,,,& it doesn't only go on here in Thailand!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[F1ART]

I was under the impression that fruit was extremly expensive in Japan?

[Bigbus]

I total agree with nookiebear. I also have been in the airline industry for 37 years and it's happened with the big airlines in Canada and it just happened with the company I am working for now.

[nookiebear]

I was under the impression that fruit was extremly expensive in Japan?

[nookiebear]

I was under the impression that fruit was extremly expensive in Japan?

I would honestly think there was a lot more than fruit involved!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

[nookiebear]

I total agree with nookiebear. I also have been in the airline industry for 37 years and it's happened with the big airlines in Canada and it just happened with the company I am working for now.

One rule for us,One rule for them!!!!!!!!!!!1

[Admin]

Thai Airways yearns to regain top rank 
Bangkok Post: 12 Jan 2010
THAI yearns for top spot
Thai Airways International aims to become one of the world's most exclusive airlines within the next two years.

THAI president Piyasvasti Amranand said he was confident that the flag carrier could attain a five-star rating from Skytrax, a UK-based research firm which polls passengers worldwide on the quality of airlines.

His confidence was buoyed last week after talks in Bangkok with Skytrax executives who told him that THAI has the potential to better its current four-star status by improving its business-class seats and in-flight meals while ensuring consistency in its services.

THAI's first-class and economy-class seats can compete with other carriers, he said.

The improvements suggested by Skytrax would be relatively easy to achieve as THAI has been working on retrofitting its older jets with new seats, and dealing with other in-flight products and services, he said.

Only six airlines have achieved a five-star rating, which indicates the highest standards: Asiana Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Kingfisher Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, Qatar Airways and Singapore Airlines.

THAI is one of 29 carriers with a four-star rating, which indicates a good standard of products and services are provided.

THAI's rating plunged to 10th in the world last year from fourth place in 2008, according to the highly regarded Skytrax survey, which polled more than 16 million air travellers from over 95 nationalities.

The poll backs growing criticism of the quality of service offered by the flag carrier compared with other global airlines, which seem to work harder and spend more money on attracting international travellers.

THAI ranked second in 2007.

www.bangkokpost.com/business/aviation/30867/thai-yearns-for-top-spot

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RELATED ARTICLE:

THAI cracks down on flight privileges

Findings into Wallop case expected Friday

* Published: 11/01/2010

Thai Airways International plans to tighten regulations to prevent its executives and staff from exploiting flight perks and privileges.

President Piyasvasti Amranand yesterday said the airline would improve its regulations to ensure transparency and accountability at the national carrier.

Wallop Bhukkanasut resigned last week as THAI's executive chairman and as a member of its board after being embroiled in a perks abuse scandal.

An internal committee is investigating claims that Mr Wallop, his wife Jaruwan and Pruek Bupphakham, the airline's executive vice-president for commercial affairs, used their positions to evade excess baggage fees on a flight from Tokyo to Suvarnabhumi Airport in November.

They are also accused of diverting the baggage through a special route to avoid paying taxes and fees.

As THAI attempts to clean up its battered reputation as a result of the executive perks scandal, Mr Piyasvasti said a working committee would tighten regulations covering privileges and benefits including free tickets for THAI executives and staff, seat upgrades and excess baggage provisions.

The panel is headed by Pandit Chanapai, executive vice-president for THAI's human resources development and management department. The regulations will go to the THAI board next month.

"The problem stems from a failure to comply with regulations. We should make them clearer," Mr Piyasvasti said.

"I believe closer scrutiny by members of the public will deter those in power from taking advantage of privileges [at THAI]."

The proposed changes bar THAI executives and staff members with free tickets from carrying excess baggage, he said.

Mr Piyasvasti said in the event they were on a business trip and had to carry excess baggage, they would have to submit a request in advance to the THAI president or the executive vice-president for commercial affairs.

Mr Piyasvasti said the committee looking into the Wallop perks abuse claims, headed by THAI board member Kanit Sangsubhan, had submitted its initial findings to the THAI board.

Mr Piyasvasti said THAI chairman Ampon Kitti-ampon would reveal the findings at a board meeting on Friday.

Mr Piyasvasti said initial findings confirmed that excess baggage totalling 398kg had been taken on board the flight from Japan.

Mr Wallop and his wife, holders of free tickets, were allowed to carry no more than 40kg of baggage.

Mr Pruek was permitted to take no more than 50kg.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/30809/thai-cracks-down-on-flight-privileges

[nookiebear]

Having just read about the so called 'new rules',we all know they will not be 'enforced'.The dust will soon settle down & it will be back to normal for the 'special few'!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Admin]

Wallop 'abused' luggage privilege
THAI to charge him B200,000, rejig perks

Bangkok Post * Published: 16/01/2010

Thai Airways International will charge its former executive chairman 200,000 baht for abusing an excess luggage allowance in an incident which led to his resignation.

THAI will also decide on the level of privileges it can extend to people of "social status", as it puts in place new measures to prevent further abuse, its chairman Ampon Kittiampon said yesterday.

Wallop Bhukkanasut quit the airline this month after being accused of exploiting his position by transporting 30 pieces of luggage weighing 398kg from Japan to Bangkok in November.

The airline launched an investigation which showed that Mr Wallop had travelled with his wife and a friend on first-class tickets, which would only have permitted them to carry luggage weighing 170kg free of charge.

"The net excess baggage that was not paid for was 228kg, so the company has decided to charge Mr Wallop 200,000 baht," said Mr Ampon.

Meanwhile, THAI says it will decide on what privileges can be offered to which people of status, in a move to prevent further abuse.

The move was suggested by the panel which investigated the case involving Mr Wallop and his wife Jaruwan, THAI executive vice-president Pruet Boobphakam, and businesswoman Pimjai Matsumoto.

The panel, headed by Kanit Sangsubhan, director of the Fiscal Policy Office's Policy Research Institute under the Finance Ministry and a THAI board member, concluded the executives had abused their authority.

A committee will now establish regulations as to what privileges should be available and to whom.

THAI chairman Mr Ampon said the committee would set the exact degree of excess baggage weights and other privileges such as special seat upgrades, and define the people who deserve such privileges.

The VIPs, focusing on people who have "social status", include privy councillors, cabinet members, former cabinet members, MPs, THAI's business partners, VIP guests of other airlines in alliance with THAI, and ministry permanent secretaries.

The regulations will go to the THAI board next month.

The board yesterday acknowledged the report from its probe committee.

The panel looked into the trip by Mr Wallop, his wife Jaruwan, Mr Pruet and Ms Pimjai on flight TG677 from Tokyo to Bangkok on Nov 14, 2009.

It found their baggage exceeded weight limits altogether by 301kg.

According to the probe results, Mr Wallop, his wife and Mrs Pimjai had their baggage checked in together.

Their combined 30 bags underwent a pool check-in, were registered under code PL0125, and weighed 398kg.

Mr Pruet checked in 10 bags separately which weighed 113kg.

The panel found no evidence to show that the four had received approval for the excess baggage weight although THAI's regulations required them to do so.

The baggage was handled on a conveyor belt and carried through customs through the normal green channel, not handled through the lost-and-found facility as earlier reported.

www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/31085/wallop-abused-luggage-privilege