Thailand 'less' corrupt, Thai Airways fleet idle at BKK – TNT Feb 1



Despite Thai Airways claiming everything is ‘back to normal’, 31 of their planes are gathering dust at BKK airport, Charlene An says she will come back to Thailand as 7 police are sidelined to desk jobs as the enquiry continues into the alleged extortion, Thailand drops in the international ‘corruption index’, pirate ship sinks in Pattaya Bay, Pheu Thai pushed to support amendments to Thailand’s Else Majesty laws.

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Tim Newton Today is a daily, independent look at Thai and south East Asian regional news.

TIMESTAMPS
0:00 – Thai Airways fleet sitting idle at Suvarnabhumi
2:42 – The latest on Charlene An and the corrupt Thai police, and vaping in Thailand
5:36 – Thailand drops in world corruption index
8:17 – Visit to Pattaya Immigration
9:51 – Koh Samui busy with tourists
10:51 – ‘Pirate ship’ restaurant sinks in Pattaya Bay
11:52 – Call for Pheu Thai to support changes to Lese Majeste laws
15:00 – Death of popular Pattaya YouTuber
16:23 – Thailand loves motorbikes!
17:28 – 90 million free condoms distributed in Thailand

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47 thoughts on “Thailand 'less' corrupt, Thai Airways fleet idle at BKK – TNT Feb 1”

  1. Everyone keeps on about corruption in Thailand. I’ve been coming for 20 years. The police have stopped me many times not wearing a helmet going to fast and I pay them. No problem in England. You get three points 100 pound fine I know what I’d I’d rather do

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  2. The West is collapsing, so you will see a large influx of tourists requesting long-term visas. The government needs to be more prepared. They should offer longer visas that support the economy, like Investor visas..

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  3. Well I am not surprised that these aircraft are standing. We were fleeced with our flight for 2 from London to Chiang Mai. I paid for what I thought was Premium Economy. We had not much more than Basic Economy for 3 times the price. GBP 3,390 pounds. 15lbs of extra baggage if you needed it otherwise same food, seating etc as basic Economy. Recently I was looking to change my seating for a bulk head seat for more leg room & was informed that this would cost me a further GBP78.80. We will most definitely will not fly Thai again ever. I would have liked Business class but at GBP11,500 for 2 no thank you Thai Air. Along with this back in UK I could not get a reply from Thai Air regards Mobility Assistance for my wife. Very poor to say the least….

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  4. I flew out of BKK this morning to Taipei on a Thai 777-300 and the plane was packed. I think many of the still parked planes are ones used prior to the pandemic for the China routes. As China travel gets back to normal Thai, I think, will put those planes back in service after some much needed maintenance. I would also like to say the service in Thai Business was exceptional.

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  5. You might have read the Thai police chief statement incorrectly, Tim. He's transferred some police officers involved in the Charlene's saga not for alleged extortion but simply for not taking action regarding her alleged possession of an e-cigarette. These 'transfers' are petty comparing to the current context of extortion.

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  6. Tim you underestimate the level of poverty in the Philippines. Most Filipino households outside the major cities do not have the money to afford to own a motorcycle and in the big cities poorer families rely on jeepneys, multicabs or trikes for public transportation. In country areas they rely on habal-habal (motorcycle taxis with extended seats for multiple passengers) or what is referred to as a 'skylab' which is a motorcycle with a wooden frame attached with an outrigger on each side to allow the bike to carry up to as many 8 passengers (I do not joke) I have also seen bikes with stretched frames to allow more passengers as a habal-habal.

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  7. Hi Tim,
    just been onto google earth and ran the historical imagery. The planes were first parked in May 2020, and the last image was in November 2022. So they have been parked up for two & a half years.

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  8. Evidence, Tim. I reckon those Thai aircraft are sitting there for economic reasons, driving ticket prices up for those few in use, while saving on those parked. They will be employed once energy prices etcetera return to normal, because keeping a plane in the air is expensive. Economics in a nutshell…..🙂

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  9. I’m in the UK. Try phoning Thaiairways. No answer. My friend who is in Thailand at present can’t get an answer there either.
    The London office is full of dust with the same jacket on the back of the seat that was there a year ago.
    Had a gold card for twenty year which has disappeared now due to covid. I loved Thai. Such a shame what a Sh* t show.

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  10. If aricle 112 was able to be applied to corrupt cops then we might see a bit less of these headlines. If Thai cops are using the word Royal in their title then they must be bringing the Royal family into disrepute.

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  11. Using e-cigarette is not an criminal offense of Custom Act unless in case of a seller or importer The police's claim that possessing an e-c to use is an offense is unacceptable It is implied that they use the loopholes of this law to extort money from the victims which is absolutely a nitemare for them and really ridiculous of those people who represents law enforcement agency in this country

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  12. Just put my son's on Thai Inter to UK. They say their flight 80pc occupied out of 380 seats. Fares still double what they used to be prepandemic. Usual reaction to lower demand-lets double the price! All airlines the same !

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  13. still no direct flights to Oslo, neither with Thai Airways or any other airline. makes me wonder whether they have enough crew. before the pandemic both Thai Airways and Norwegian were flying to/from Bangkok. Norwegian sold off all their Dreamliners and no longer fly long haul.

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  14. Tim,
    Appreciate your infos re Thai Airways
    There are still no flights into China today, only GZ.
    If they open they would need at least 1 dozen planes.
    We wait for the routes to open.

    BR from Ulan Baatar
    Cheers

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  15. REF VISTA I have Live in Thailand For 20 Years [PATTAYA] Was TOLD IT WAS DIFFICULT TO GET A MARRIED VISTA I MOVED TO NONGKHAI and got a marriage vias with no PROBLEMS TONY NORCUP.

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