BANGKOK, Jan 28 (TNA) – The novel coronavirus outbreak takes
its toll on airlines as Thai AirAsia projects a three-per cent loss of revenue in
the first quarter of this year from a drop in passenger number by about
300,000.
Santisuk
Klongchaiya, chief executive of Thai AirAsia (TAA) said the Wuhan coronavirus
outbreak prompted the airline to suspend three daily direct flights to Wuhan
and the Chinese government also ordered travel agencies to suspend tours to
contain virus outbreak.
These
factors are likely to cause a drop in passenger number by 200,000 in the first
quarter and by about 300,000 persons, including charter flights.
To create confidence among its
passengers, Thai AirAsia has adopted measures to ensure their safety by implementing
thermal screening for passengers, departing from China and Thailand and its
aircraft are fitted with HEPA Filter (High Efficiency Particulate Air Filter),
said Santisuk.
He
said he believed that the new coronavirus outbreak would only have a short
–term impact and the state and private sectors could have tourism stimulus
plans to draw Chinese tourists back to Thailand after the situation eases.
In
the meantime, the airline eyes other travel routes to replace Chinese markets
and offset its loss.
Destinations
in southern Japan such as Fukuoka have good potential and quite popular among
Thai tourists. Japanese people from this region are also interested to travel
to Thailand, he added. (TNA)
