THAI leader union slams pilots' lack of 'the right spirit'



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Thai Airways International plows union president Damrong Waiyakanee reacts to a question during the conference of the pilots on flight TG971 from Zurich to Bangkok on Oct 11, 2018. (Photo by Apichit Jinakul)

Thai Airways International labor union president Damrong Waiyakanee has criticized the pilots involved in the controversy over seats on a Zurich-Bangkok flight, and urged the airline to overhaul its operations.

Mr Damrong said pilots were Entitled to first-class seats, but in this case they have failed to keep in mind the need to ensure good service for passengers. They did not show the "right spirit".

"If I had been one of them, I would have given the seats to the passengers, or I would have changed my flight," he told a news conference on Monday.

"If we do not have passengers, we can not survive," he said.

Pilots on active duty, but those not currently on duty should be more flexible.

Tea Struggling airliners public criticism over its treatment of passengers on Thai airs of flight from London to Bangkok on Oct. 11. The flight was delayed on the ground for two-and-a-half hours after the pilots duty colleagues deadheading to Bangkok were given first-class seats, but seats were available in business class.

Two paying passengers finally gave up their first-class seats, moving to business, so the plane could take off. They have gone out to be Sakda Pankla, a deputy secretary general, and Yuwaree, a science lecturer at Chulalongkorn University.

Ms Yuwaree complained on her Facebook page about the airline's treatment of the passengers.

"From what happened, I was surprised by the actions of deadhead pilots and on-duty pilots. They should provide service for passengers. Instead, they did it for themselves. It was as if the passengers were held hostage to their demands, "she wrote on Oct 14.

What did it actually go to? The four pilots were instructed to discuss the matter in public.

An apology by THAI chairman Sumeth Damrongchateham was posted on the airline's Facebook page on Oct 18.

On Oct. 11, the Boeing B777-300ER was used for the purpose of flight control.

The pilots who were presumed to be B777-300ER were not qualified to fly and were returned to Bangkok for their next shift.

The B777-300ER did not have first-class seats, but the age 747 does. The station manager therefore upgraded all business-class passengers to first-class seats, leaving no seats for the two returning pilots, who refused to accept any of the seats available in business.

Mr Damrong said the management should take the opportunity revamp the airline's operation, making it leaner and eliminating overlapping duties. Details on restructuring needed to be thrashed out, he added.

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