Thai Airways has initiated discussions with Airbus and Boeing with the intention of finalizing an order for up to thirty wide-body aircraft, as reported by Bloomberg. The company, which currently operates long-range models from both manufacturers, plans to begin receiving the aircraft starting from 2026.
See also: Thai Airways reports first-quarter 2023 earnings despite ailing financial situation
Thai Airways seeks to expandi ts long-range fleet
Despite facing a challenging financial situation, Thailand’s national carrier recorded profits between January and March, primarily due to the lifting of mobility restrictions in some of its key markets and the growth in travel demand as a result of the recovery in activity.
In recent months, many operators have chosen to expand and modernize their fleets to meet the increased demand, often through large orders for dozens or hundreds of aircraft. In this context, airlines are rushing to finalize their purchase orders, while the manufacturers’ backlogs continue to fill up.
Thai Airways, a company heavily reliant on the leisure travel market, had over a hundred operational aircraft before the start of the pandemic. However, the crisis had a significant impact on the company, and its fleet has since been considerably reduced.
“We want the earliest deliveries, but as you know, Airbus and Boeing are filling their production slots”, commented Chai Eamsiri, CEO of Thai Airways, at the annual general meeting of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) held in Istanbul. The executive stated that they could receive the new aircraft starting from 2026.
See also: Restructuring Thai Airways: Merging with Thai Smile Airways to Boost Competitiveness
Current fleet and forecast for the coming years
According to the company’s financial report for the first quarter of 2023, as of March 31, they had 65 aircraft. However, the projections for the near future are positive: if the planned deliveries and leases are fulfilled, the airline would operate over a hundred airplanes by 2027.
Recently, the Bangkok-based carrier signed lease agreements for eleven Airbus A350, and two of them should be delivered during the second quarter of this year. Currently, their long-haul fleet consists of Airbus A350-900, Boeing 777-300ER, and 787 Dreamliner aircraft.
