Thai Airways pitch moves ahead despite pitch fee deadlock

After months of negotiations that saw the pending agencies refusing to back down over pitch fees, the Thai Airways pitch is on the move once again.

Pitching fees stipulated by the AAT (Advertising Association of Thailand) required the client to pay THB 100,000 (US$3,251) per agency they invite to a pitch, to which Thai Airwars declined to concede. 

The losing agencies will receive the THB 100,000 once the pitch is complete, while the fees from the winning agency is retained by the AAT for general funding.

According to sources, the airline has now agreed to pay the pitch fees and short-listed five agencies, leading up to the impending announcement in early December, including Dentsu, JWT, Lowe, Euro RSCG and Spa Hakuhodo.

The final selection will include three agencies managing four campaigns including, branding, network and operations, products and services and tactical.

Thai Airways called a pitch in July this year with the aim to award the creative account from January for a two-year term.