Off into the sunset - Bangkok Post

Re: "THAI top boss gets the chop", (BP, Oct 3).

THAI's headline-hogging baggage delays, which led to the summary dismissal of its CEO Chai Eamsiri, give us ample reason to take a calm, reasoned look at whether we even need a national carrier. Why not let THAI sink or swim on its own?

Many say THAI is vital to our national image. Thus, even though THAI is no longer a state enterprise, the Transport Ministry sits on its board, the Finance Ministry is its main shareholder, and the permanent secretary for finance is its board chairman.

But after 66 years of operations, THAI has suffered a highly public bankruptcy -- and now it has shown that, under strain, it cannot even manage its passengers' baggage. The timing could hardly be worse, with the World Bank and IMF flying here for their annual meeting next week. What an image THAI is projecting.