Thai Airways to go it alone?

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The management of Thai Airways International has announced it is to cancel the bidding process for its inflight programme, sources close to the bidding revealed to TRW.

The concession was originally operated by King Power Onboard Sales & Services, whose contract terminated in November last year. Speaking to local media at the time, the carrier?s chairman and acting president Veerapong Ramangkul said the concession fee paid by King Power was "too small" at Bt100m ($2.3m). He also said the merchandise onboard was not attractive enough to entice passengers.

Thai Airways hoped to receive bids from other concessionaires, but TRW understands that several of the leading companies did not agree to the airline?s demand of a yearly minimum guarantee of $2.5m. Inflight Sales Group confirmed it had offered the airline a wholesale agreement and Asia Wave International also made an alternative offer, but both companies were turned down.