Thai Airways to cut around 5,000 jobs over several years: Bangkok Post

[BANGKOK] Thai Airways will reduce its workforce by around 5,000, or around 20 per cent, over several years through attrition, the Bangkok Post newspaper reported on Wednesday, citing the transport minister.

The military-led government approved a restructuring plan for the state-controlled carrier on Monday but did not detail plans to shed jobs.

The airline is among the state companies which the military has targeted for reform since seizing power from an elected government in a coup in May.

Transport Minister Prajin Junthong said there would be no forced redundancies, and that staff would be reduced through retirement and early retirement.

The company aims to cut around 1,000 staff per year over five years, a senior executive told Reuters on Wednesday on condition of anonymity.

That would reduce the workforce to around 20,000 and would be commensurate with an around 20 per cent reduction in the fleet, he said.

The fleet would be reduced gradually to around 80 planes over the next five years from a fleet of around 104 planes as of last September, the executive said.

The company said on Monday it would sell 22 planes by next July. It is also scheduled to take delivery of new planes in coming years.

A Thai Airways spokesman declined to comment on Wednesday on the job cuts or fleet reduction.

REUTERS