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Chonnakarn Akrapreedee
Hometown: Bangkok, Thailand
In Japan: Since 2011
Identity: General Manager of Thai Airways Int’l South Japan
This month we checked in with Chonnakarn Akrapreedee, who landed her first job with Thai Airways International in 2000, following a short stopover at Star Alliance in Frankfurt. She is now General Manager, South Japan of Thai Airways in Fukuoka where she is in charge of making sure ticket sales take off for their daily flights to and from Bangkok. Recent Japanese visa relaxations have meant an average 30~35% rise in the number of inbound travellers, but her main objective is to promote business trips and holidays to Thailand: she recommends the Chiang Mai mountains, which are ‘like Kyushu, but with elephants you can ride’. Read the full interview below for her thoughts on how airlines can tackle the problems of typhoons and climate change, and the challenges of being the only foreign female general manager in Fukuoka: is Thailand ‘more open in terms of working space for women’? For details of the TG Super Deal, Thai Airways’ current special offer, go to thaiair.co.jp.
Tell us a bit about your career so far.
This is my 13th year working with Thai Airways. It was actually my first job – I fell in love with the industry whilst studying for my master’s degree, when I interviewed the Thai Airways management for my dissertation about competition law in aviation.
In 2012 Thai Airways celebrated its 20th anniversary of service between Fukuoka and Bangkok. How have you generated interest in a trip to Thailand for Japanese travellers?
We began with a very limited capacity service in 1992 – just two flights a week. As time passed, we started to develop our market down to the rest of Kyushu and Okinawa, and now we expand the capacity of our flights. The Southern Japan market is mainly leisure travellers – Japanese people really love Thailand.
Can you tell us about the current service you offer between Fukuoka and Bangkok?
We run a daily flight between Fukuoka and Bangkok on an Airbus A330-300. We have a capacity of 299 seats: 36 business class and 263 economy. Our departure times are good: we depart at 11:40 arriving in Bangkok at 15:35, and our night flight departs from Bangkok at 1:00am and arrives here at 8:00. This means the last day is a full day and you don’t need to book a hotel for last night.
Is there much business travel between Japan and Thailand?
Yes, but corporate traffic from Kyushu is still small in proportion to Tokyo. Apart from big corporations in Kitakyushu, most business travellers are from small to medium enterprises.
Visa requirements for South East Asian (ASEAN) travellers visiting Japan have recently been relaxed. How is this affecting the Bangkok-Fukuoka route?
Our Thai inbound routes have seen big growth: around 30~35% in July, August and September. We work in close relation with the Kyushu District Transport Bureau and Kyushu Tourism Promotion. Every year we invite Thai travel agents and media here to let Thai people know how beautiful it is. Everyone wants to do the Golden Route (Tokyo to Osaka) and Sapporo is actually more popular than Kyushu at the moment. Most visitors to Kyushu are repeat travellers, who want to explore another part of Japan.
Which parts of the Thai Airways service are you most proud of?
Anyone can buy new aircraft with investment, but we are very proud of what we call our ‘Touches of Thai’: the unique service that we deliver, with our greeting at the airport, the cabin crew wearing traditional Thai costumes, and the Thai dishes served in-flight, to make a ‘Thai brand’.
How can airlines tackle the problem of carbon emissions?
We are well aware of carbon emissions and have invested and implemented measures to tackle this issue, for example, a Fuel Management System to optimize fuel consumption; a sustainable Material Management including the use of new aircrafts and engine cleaning, aircraft washing program, e-Meal menu, e-Duty Free magazine; and the use of light weight containers. We also increase flight operation efficiency by replacing gross weight charge paper system with less paper for take-off and landing performance. Apart from this, we try to enhance customer’s awareness on carbon emissions through “Travel Green” advertisement, voluntary carbon offset program for websales and carbon footprint for onboard meal.
Do you see low cost carriers as a threat?
For this market, they are not a threat, but a challenge. Currently we are the only ones to fly directly between Fukuoka and Bangkok. We position ourselves as a full-service, premium airline, which is totally different from the low cost market. We try to convince the local market from Kyushu to fly business class. I strongly believe that if they try it once, they won’t go back.
How do you deal with typhoons and other natural disasters?
This year has been special, in that we have had a lot of problems with big typhoons. Frankly speaking, Fukuoka is very lucky – I haven’t had to cancel any flights for the last three months. In irregular cases, our website (www.thaiair.co.jp) is a key channel for updating flight information and keep passengers informed. Passengers have to understand that we have no choice but to delay the flight for their own safety, but we will handle them with care.
What is a typical day in the life of Chonnakarn Akrapreedee?
I am responsible for making sales plans and maintaining seasonality and passenger numbers. I work with 16 people here – 80% of my job is discussions with my sales team and I meet with the airport and cargo teams on a regular basis. I also solve many problems every day.
How many languages do you speak? How do you use them in your work?
I only speak Thai and English, not Japanese. I know some basics but I need my teams to accompany me and translate when doing business. I thought that language would be a bigger barrier for me when I arrived, as people speak very little English in the industry, but people here are really nice and their hospitality can help you survive!
Working as a foreigner in Japan can hold challenges, especially for women – how has your experience of working here been?
I think I’m lucky, as people are kind, and the market is not too tough. But being a woman in business is not easy here. I believe I am the only female General Manager in Fukuoka. I look like a stranger at gatherings – this is a man’s world. I think Thailand is more open in terms of working space for women. We have a lot of female management in my company and in my country! The Thai tourism and trade offices here are all women and my station managers are female too.
How have you adapted to life in Japan?
I’m here alone, so most of my time is dedicated to my work, but I try and do some networking in the international community and to see local Japanese friends. I enjoy travelling – my friends have a house in Akizuki, where I often go for a weekend.
What would you recommend to see in Thailand, on a week’s break?
If it’s your first visit, you have to go to Bangkok, but I would recommend a trip to Chiang Mai, which is very charming. There are lots of historical sites and mountains, which are like Kyushu, but with elephants you can ride! If you prefer the beach, then Phuket is the perfect place to lie down and enjoy the sunshine all day.
What are your favourite things to do in Fukuoka? Can you recommend any good Thai restaurants?
You mean apart from work, right? I enjoy the traditional Japanese onsens, especially in the cold season. There are many good Thai restaurants in Fukuoka, but usually I go to Bandar in Daimyo as it’s close to the office. Sala Rim Nam is also good for authentic Thai food.
Do you have any new services or campaigns coming up?
At the moment we have a pillar ad up in Tenjin for our special internet fare, the TG super deal, which you can find at www.thaiair.co.jp. There are some very attractive fares, not only to Bangkok but for domestic flights and connections within our network too, to Hanoi, Australia and Europe for example. We now have 76 weekly departures from Japan and our seventh Japanese destination, Sendai, will be opening in December.
What are your own plans for the future?
My plan depends on my management’s plan. My contract is for three years, and then is subject to reshuffles. I would like to stay in Japan; I love it here in Fukuoka. I have a very good team who I enjoy working with. To come to work every day, you need inspiration. If you have fun, you will do the job well.
Interview by Katie Forster for Fukuoka Now
Originally published in Fukuoka Now Magazine (fn180, Dec. 2013)
