The event - which aims to boost both international and domestic travel on THAI during the low season - is being held at the Siam Discovery Centre from June 16 to 19. This is a week before the Thai AirAsia Travel Fair, scheduled for June 23 to 25 at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre.

Thai AirAsia expects to draw more budget travellers by highlighting its Bt9 tickets per sector at the latter event.

THAI vice president for sales and distribution Wallop Bhukkanasut said the national airline would have special air fares and packages on offer during its own fair, including Value Card and Eueng Luang Packages.

He said the carrier's best deal at the moment was its Bt4,600 (excluding fuel surcharge) economy round-trip offer. With a choice of 11 overseas destinations - Tokyo, Singapore, Hong Kong, Manila, Jakarta, Taipei, Rangoon, Calcutta, Phnom Penh, Ho Chi Minh and Kuala Lumpur - it works out as up to 70 per cent off the normal price. The tax-inclusive price is limited to 46 bookings a day, or a total of 184 seats over four days.

"It's no wonder it's being called our best-ever offer. For example, a round trip from Bangkok to Tokyo is normally Bt18,000. This has now been reduced to only Bt4,600," said Wallop.

In the meantime, the company is slashing 20 to 45 per cent off fares for the rest of its destinations, both in Thailand and overseas.

Wallop said THAI expected to generate Bt80 million in sales this year, up from Bt30 million in 2005. "When we give an offer like this of up to 70 per cent off for 184 seats, it's not about earning a high revenue. But it will help us get a larger share of the market, boost sales and increase awareness among customers," he said.

He added that many major airlines operating in Thailand, such as Cathay Pacific and Singapore Airlines, were now also offering special low-price deals.

THAI's average passenger-load factor in the current quarter is 75 per cent, up from 60 per cent on the same period last year. Meanwhile, its quarterly profit is expected to reach Bt4.7 billion, compared with a Bt4.7-billion loss in its third fiscal quarter last year.

The company intends to increase its pro-active marketing strategies during the remaining months of the fiscal year.

The airline has so far been successful in the inbound market, but is still weak when it comes to outbound. As a result, it plans to focus more on outbound travellers, especially those with connecting flights, in order to increase the load factor.