Necessary decisions?

THAI president pushes on with contentious reforms

Has Thai Airways International (THAI) president Charamporn Jotikasthira finally made a smart move? Some industry observers think so… although not many within Thailand’s airline circles, or even within the ranks of the country’s military junta, agree.

He has reportedly decided to hire an Australian as a vice-president for sales, which is causing a stir around Bangkok. That may seem strange, given the global nature of airlines and the fact that expertise is so easily transferable from place to place. But in Thailand the appointment of Bryan Banston, who spent years in senior positions at Qantas and, more recently, with Emirates, breaks a taboo among State-owned enterprises which don’t normally have expatriates in executive positions. The last time THAI had foreigners in its upper echelons was more than 35 years ago when a couple of Americans and Scandinavians worked there.