Thai Airways seeks $545 mln for working capital

"We have problems with cash flow because we lost 19 billion baht in cash during the closures of the airports," acting President Narongsak Sangapong told Reuters. "So we need that amount (19 billion baht) to support our cash flow."

Narongsak denied reports by local newspapers that the national carrier needed as much as 35 billion baht for cash flow.

The reports sent shares in Thai Air — already hurt by the global crisis and by the airport closures late last year by political demonstrators — down 5.8 percent on Monday to 6.50 baht, the lowest since they listed in 1992. ($1=34.85 Baht)