Thai Budget Airline One-Two-Go Suspends Operations
If you check the website of the Thailand-based budget airline One-Two-Go, this is the message that will greet you:
Dear Valued Passengers
We would like to inform you that during 22 July 2008 – 15 September 2008 we are operating a reduced schedule.
We apologize for any inconvenience to your travel plan and thank you for your kind understanding.
One-Two-Go Airlines.
The reports that are circulating, however, say something different. According to Bangkok Post, the 56-day grounding is due to “mounting cost pressures spurred by ballooning oil prices, fierce competition from rival airlines, falling domestic passenger demand and the poor business outlook”. Bloomberg confirms that the suspension in operations is a financial move.
However, another report in Bangkok Post says there is another reason for the suspension:
The Civil Aviation Department has ordered One-Two-Go airlines to halt operations for 30 days due to substandard operations and revoked or suspended the flying licences of nine of its pilots.
The department had found shortcomings in the airline’s aviation operations, flight schedules and maintenance, along with a lack of quality assurance.
The low-cost airline had violated aviation safety regulations and lacked proper airline management.
Now that, coupled with financial issues, would make it tremendously difficult for One-Two-Go to make it back in the scene!
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