Jens Flottau/TOKYO
Thai Airways International chief executive Thamnoon Wanglee says a decision on the privatisation of the carrier will be taken next March or April, with the choice of investor determining whether the carrier remains within the Star Alliance.
Wanglee confirms that British Airways and Qantas have made approaches on behalf of oneworld, although he stresses that Thai has reacted pragmatically to regional rival Singapore Airlines' (SIA) admission into the group.
Thai's privatisation schedule has slipped and no official bids have been submitted. The first stage is due to see Bangkok's 93% holding in the flag carrier reduced to 70%, with an airline investor taking a stake of up to 14%. The second stage will see the government reduce its stake to under 50% in two or three years, Wanglee believes.
He adds that Thai has adopted an "if you can't beat them, join them" attitude to SIA's entry into Star, although he cautions that the government would have preferred to preserve Bangkok as the alliance's sole regional hub. Busier Singapore - just 1h away - has a better claim as a Star hub, while the Thai capital's new international airport is not due to open until 2005. The Star carriers are expected to make a joint bid for Thai.
• Barclays Capital has granted Thai a $577 million non-syndicated foreign currency loan. The loan, guaranteed by the US Export-Import Bank, will be used to buy four Boeing 777-300s and a 747-400.
Source: Flight International
