Thai Airways unveils new fleet development plan

[JuliusWong 0]

Link : http://www.flightglobal.com/articles...s-and-12-a350s-in-37-aircraft.html

Media release: http://thai.listedcompany.com/newsroom/2011-06-13_THAI_EN.pdf

 

Quote from article:

Thai plans to purchase 15 aircraft and acquire the remaining 22 on operating leases. It will purchase six Boeing 777-300ERs, to be delivered in 2014 and 2015, four Airbus A350-900s (2016 and 2017) and five Airbus A320-200s (2014 and 2015).

 

It also plans to acquire six 787-8s and two 787-9s from US lessor International Lease Finance (ILFC) on operating leases. The -8s will be delivered in 2014 and 2015, while the -9s will be delivered in 2017.

 

In addition, Thai will lease six A350-900s from Aviation Lease and Finance, to be delivered in 2017, and two A350-900s from CIT Aerospace International, which will deliver the aircraft in 2016. The airline will also lease six A320-200s from RBS Aerospace International, to be delivered in 2012 and 2013.

 

All the operating leases have terms of 12 years each, said Thai.

 

What an interesting yet confusing purchase and lease shopping list. Thailand will soon become spotters' heaven with seven different fleet families: Airbus A330, A340, A350 and A380. Boeing B747, B777 and B787.[/i]

 

In addition, MH better start buying B77W soon. The line is getting longer and longer. All SEA big carriers are currently or will operate B77W soon. PR, SQ, GA, TG....mana MH???

Edited June 13, 2011 by JuliusWong

[JuliusWong 0]

Summary:

 

Owned:

6 Boeing B777-300ER Delivery 2014-2015

4 Airbus A350-900 Delivery 2016-2017

5 Airbus A320-200 Delivery 2014-2015

 

Lease:

ILFC

 

• 6 Boeing 787-8 Delivery 2014-2015 12 years
  
• 2 Boeing 787-9 Delivery 2017 12 years
  

 

CIT Aerospace

2 Airbus A350-900 Delivery 2016 12 years

 

ALAFCO

6 Airbus A350-900 Delivery 2017 12 years

 

RBS Aerospace

6 Airbus A320-200 Delivery 2012-2013 12 years

 

This order will make Thai Airways one of the pioneer airline to engage A350. The Thai livery will look awesome on both A350 and B787.

 

The above fleet development is for 2011-2017. Thai will also soon unveil another fleet development plan for 2018-2022 with outright purchase, no lease.

[Mohd Suhaimi Fariz 2]

I thought 77W is basically a 744 replacement, isn't it? With MH's 744 already being replaced by A380s, do we seriously need the 77W?

[Sharil Abdul Rahman 0]

i think if MH gets a 77W right now, THIS will be a 'me-too' purchase.

 

Better off they getting 787s or 350s. and maybe even more a332s

[Johan Z 0]

MH can replace some of 772ER with 77W especially on CDG, FRA and MEL where 744 is too big, but needs more than 77E capacity. Just like TG, they can order 787-9 for long routes not needing 772 capacity.

[KK Lee 5]

MH can replace some of 772ER with 77W especially on CDG, FRA and MEL where 744 is too big, but needs more than 77E capacity. Just like TG, they can order 787-9 for long routes not needing 772 capacity.

 

If demand is strong on FRA, CDG and FCO, MH would have gone daily with 772.

[Johan Z 0]

CDG is already daily, FRA is 5x weekly (if I'm not mistaken).

[KC Sim 2]

In true Thai fashion, this latest purchase / lease arrangement will ensure that Thai Airways International will have a hugely diverse fleet.

 

KC Sim

[JingKai Seah 0]

hmm.. why such a diverse fleet? wont this be a burden on the maintenance cost? i thought they should be minimizing the diversity of the fleets to keep maintenance cost low? o.o? not to mention pilots needing training on different aircraft systems?

[Kris Kim 0]

Those baby A320's will look beautiful in the TG livery, better than those 737's, these will be used primarily on domestic routes within Thailand and probably Indochina?

 

If only MH ordered the A320 as the 734 replacements, they would have looked beautiful in the updated livery, maybe when the A320NEO comes along?

[Kenneth Chong WT 0]

Maybe some will go to thaiwings...

[Isaac 0]

hmm.. why such a diverse fleet? wont this be a burden on the maintenance cost? i thought they should be minimizing the diversity of the fleets to keep maintenance cost low? o.o? not to mention pilots needing training on different aircraft systems?

TG is no stranger to operating a diverse fleet. And most importantly, they are profitable most of the time unlike some even without a diverse fleet

[Pieter C. 5]

Really surprised TG choose the A320 and not the 738...

 

Wonder what the reason would be...

[Mike P 0]

I thought A320 is more fuel savings than B738? Or technically the same?

[Johan Z 0]

Maybe A320neo, but only five?

[Isaac 0]

Maybe A320neo, but only five?

They have always been operated just a handful of narrowbodies. Believe the 320 is meant to be used on thinner domestic routes and probably one of the double daily flights to Vientiane and Phnom Penh.

Edited June 15, 2011 by Isaac

[KK Lee 5]

THAI orders 9 new Airbus planes for fleet upgrade

By The Nation

Published on August 13, 2011

 

Thai Airways International has signed a contract with Airbus to purchase four A350-900s and five A320s, the first purchase in Thailand of these types of aircraft.

 

The planes have been selected as part of THAI's fleet-modernisation programme, with the A350 XWB to operate on long-haul flights to Europe and the A320s on domestic and regional routes.

 

As well as the aircraft ordered from Airbus, the airline is leasing eight additional A350-900s and six more A320s from third parties.

 

"The A350 XWB and A320 will play a significant role in ensuring that THAI operates one of the most modern and efficient fleets in the region in the years ahead. They will also help THAI strengthen its competitiveness, increase its market share and ensure its future as a strong and sustainable airline," said Piyasvasti Amranand, president of THAI.

 

"With these fuel-efficient aircraft we will be able to offer passengers the highest levels of comfort on both long-haul and shorter regional routes, while benefiting from lower operating costs and cleaner environmental performance."

 

John Leahy, Airbus chief operating officer for customers, said: "This order from THAI reflects the unbeatable operating economics offered by the Airbus product range across the various market sectors.

 

"Whether for short regional services or long intercontinental routes, Airbus has the right products with the lowest operating costs to meet every airline requirement."

 

THAI currently operates a fleet that includes the A340, A330 and A300-600. In addition to the newly ordered aircraft, the airline is to begin flying the A380 superjumbo in the second half of 2012.

 

The A350 XWB (Xtra Wide-Body) family is an all-new long-range product line comprising three models capable of flying between 270 and 350 passengers in typical three-class layouts on flights of up to 8,500 nautical miles. It is scheduled for entry to service in 2013.

 

The A350 XWB has become one of the industry's most successful commercial aircraft, with more than 570 orders received from 36 customers worldwide.

 

The A320 family (A318, A319, A320 and A321) is recognised as the benchmark single-aisle aircraft. Close to 7,700 A320 aircraft have been ordered, with more than 4,700 having been delivered to more than 330 customers and operators worldwide.

 

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/home/THAI-orders-9-new-Airbus-planes-for-fleet-upgrade-30162649.html

[alberttky 0]

SEATTLE /PRNewswire/ -- Boeing (NYSE: BA) and Thai Airways International have finalized a firm order for six 777-300 Extended Range (ER) airplanes.

 

The order completes an agreement to purchase Boeing 777-300ERs announced during the Paris Air Show in June. At list prices, the order is valued at $1.7 billion.

 

"These additional Boeing 777-300ERs will support our commitment to expanding market presence while delivering profitable growth," said Piyasvasti Amranand, president of Thai. "The 777-300ER sets the standard for twin-aisle reliability because Boeing continuously incorporates new technology and innovations into the airplane to improve operating cost and airplane performance. And, with a wider and more spacious cabin, the Boeing 777-300ER is preferred by passengers in every class."

 

Thai currently operates nearly every 777 model produced, including the 777-200, 777-200ER, 777-300 and 777-300ER. In addition, THAI Cargo became the first carrier in Southeast Asia to utilize the 777 Freighter.

 

In the Paris Air Show announcement, Thai announced that its board of directors also authorized the lease of eight 787 Dreamliners.

 

"We thank Thai for the trust and confidence it continues to show for airplanes built by the men and women of Boeing," said Marlin Dailey, vice president of Sales Marketing for Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "We look forward to working with Thai to introduce the 787, as well as these additional 777s, into its operations."

 

http://www.just4airlines.com/j4_dox/email/rss.mv?story_id=52734

[Raymund Yeoh 1]

Sigh our neighbours up north and down south are already utilizing 777-300ER to the max n MH is still runnin around not knowin what needs to be done....

MH come on, if the likes of TG, SQ, PR, NZ, VN already have 777-300ER in their inventory n milkin it to the max.......what r u waitin for.....

[Johan Z 0]

Don't forget GA also waiting for theirs.

[alberttky 0]

Sigh our neighbours up north and down south are already utilizing 777-300ER to the max n MH is still runnin around not knowin what needs to be done....

MH come on, if the likes of TG, SQ, PR, NZ, VN already have 777-300ER in their inventory n milkin it to the max.......what r u waitin for.....

 

zzzzZZZZzzzz.....

[BC Tam 2]

zzzzZZZZzzzz.....

Remember who is the one advising them

[Mike P 0]

MH is already bleeding so much, can't afford more newer aircraft. Losing at 500mil in a quarter! Holy s#1t, does it mean the operating cost is like 1 billion or more in half a year?

[flee 5]

I think MH will find it problematic to fill up B77W and the B772 is probably the right plane for them for the moment. Once the new A333s are deployed on the Asian regional routes, the B772s can be withdrawn and used on the long haul European routes. I believe that they are already doing so with the LHR route. For the longer term, MH should look at the B787 as the replacement for long haul intercontinental B772s.

[ingwen 0]

Quick solution might be to take some of those 787s from AI either on lease or outright purchase…..hmmmm