It is now as much a part of Zurich Airport as the control tower: Thai Airways has been present here for 40 years and is appreciated by many travellers. The Thai national carrier celebrated the milestone birthday yesterday evening with 100 guests from the Swiss travel and freight industry in the Garden Salon of the Dolder Grand Hotel Zurich.
‘We are proud of our long-standing presence here and of our success in building a bridge between our two countries,‘ said Thai Airways’ Director of Sales, Wit Kitchathorn, in his speech. In his address, Stefan Tschudin, COO of Zurich Airport, emphasised the importance of Thai Airways for Zurich Airport and Switzerland.
It was on 4 November 1984 that the first Thai Airways aircraft landed in Zurich. Two days earlier, the representative office and sales office here in Switzerland opened in Zurich city centre, at that time still on Limmatquai. Today, the Thai Airways office is located at Bahnhofstrasse 87.
All the major Swiss travel companies and Asian specialists were present at the celebrations at the Dolder Grand, and over dinner – from duck terrine to sirloin steak – many good memories of the long collaboration were exchanged. Ambassador Chittipat Tongprasroeth, the Thai ambassador in Bern, was also present at the celebrations, along with Watcharayu Kuawong (Director DACH, Tourism Authority of Thailand).
The Thai band Moradok Mai created a wonderful atmosphere, filling the Garden Salon with Thai sounds, modern music and dance performances. The festive evening, hosted by Patricia Marsolo, also featured a lucky draw: Hans Wettstein, Managing Director of Insight Reisen, is the winner of two business class tickets from Zurich to Bangkok. Two economy class tickets went to Tanja Turajlic from Fracht AG. Here’s to another 40 years of Thai Airways in Switzerland!