The suspension of SAS Scandinavian Airlines flights to Bangkok from summer 2013 is a sign of the economic malaise faced by European airlines. And tells a lot about the low yields experienced on long-haul operations out of Thailand…
BANGKOK- Despite high load factors, SAS Scandinavian Airlines will suspend its flagship route between Copenhagen and Bangkok over the summer months of 2013, according to a statement from the airline. The airline will stop flying to Bangkok from mid April to mid September 2013, a first for this route served without any interruption over the last sixty years. According to the airline’s management, revenue yields on the Copenhagen-Bangkok are among the lowest of any intercontinental route flown by the Scandinavian carrier with very few business class passengers. The Airbus A340-300 serving Bangkok will be redeployed on new USA routes out of Copenhagen.
Earlier this year, Air France-KLM also blamed low yields to reduce its presence from one daily to three weekly flights on the Paris-Bangkok route. Air Berlin also withdrew from Bangkok for the winter season on its Bangkok-Berlin route which is now served in partnership with Etihad Airways via Abu Dhabi. At time of the announcement, the airline also blamed low yields for the decision. It was also the same problematic which forced Lufthansa to abandon its Munich-Bangkok route a few years ago. With European carriers continuing to suffer under high costs and declining yields, Bangkok might continue to experience a reduction in the number of European airlines flying directly to the Thai capital.
Luc Citrinot a French national is a freelance journalist and consultant in tourism and air transport with over 20 years experience. Based in Paris and Bangkok, he works for various travel and air transport trade publications in Europe and Asia.
