Thai Airways International becomes new operator of the A350 XWB

[flee 5]

 

30 AUGUST 2016 PRESS RELEASE

Thai Airways International (THAI) has become the eighth operator of the A350 XWB, following the delivery today of the first of 12 aircraft set to join the carrier’s fleet. The aircraft delivered today is being operated on lease from US-based CIT.

THAI has configured its A350-900 with a premium two class layout with a total of 321 seats, comprising 32 THAI’s Royal Silk Class, convertible to fully lie-flat beds, and 289 in the main cabin.

After an initial period flying on regional services between Bangkok and Chiang Mai, the aircraft will be deployed on long haul flights soon thereafter, starting with the Bangkok-Melbourne route.

Altogether THAI has acquired 12 Airbus A350 XWBs. Four of these are being purchased directly from Airbus, with the other eight aircraft being acquired under lease agreements.

The A350 XWB features the latest aerodynamic design, carbon fiber fuselage and wings, plus new fuel-efficient Rolls-Royce engines. Together, these latest technologies translate into unrivalled levels of operational efficiency, with a 25 per cent reduction in fuel burn and emissions, and significantly lower maintenance costs. The spaciousness, quietness, beautiful interior and mood lighting in the cabin contribute to superior levels of comfort and well-being, setting new standards in terms of flight experience for all passengers.

To date, Airbus has recorded a total of 810 firm orders for the A350 XWB from 43 customers worldwide, already making it one of the most successful widebody aircraft ever.

This and more photos are available in high resolution: www.airbus.com/pressroom

For more information about THAI’s first A350 XWB, please visit the Airbus’ dedicated website: www.a350xwb.com/delivery/thai-airways/

Edited August 31, 2016 by flee

[Kenneth Chong WT 0]

While some airlines choose one or the other...Thai and Vietnam have both the 350 AND the 787 in their fleet...wow...just WOW!

[Mushrif A 3]

So will SQ.

[flee 5]

While some airlines choose one or the other...Thai and Vietnam have both the 350 AND the 787 in their fleet...wow...just WOW!

Not so surprising with the Thais - they buy almost every plane made for their airline and airforce!

More and more airlines are buying from both Airbus and Boeing - a lot could be due to the long waiting periods for delivery. They need to receive their aircraft quick and they are just diversifying their risk of delays.

[JuliusWong 0]

It depends on the airline requirement and their operation matrix. Thai bought B787 to replace A300B4-600R fleet; A350XWB to replace B772/B773 to some extend B744 fleet. VN bought B787 to replace A332/A333 fleet, A350XWB for B772 fleet.

[KK Lee 5]

While some airlines choose one or the other...Thai and Vietnam have both the 350 AND the 787 in their fleet...wow...just WOW!

 

Different capacity. Yield could only optimize if capacity is matched with demand.

[David.W 0]

if MAB has the money, should it have a mix of the 2?

[flee 5]

if MAB has the money, should it have a mix of the 2?

Well the options are a bit different now.

 

For the regional A333 replacement, the easiest and cheapest way is the A339.

 

The A350 (already on order) is the only long haul aircraft that they need to replace their B744s, B77Es and A380s. They don't need any other aircraft for flights over 10 hours.

 

So the fleet now looks very simple. Boeing narrow bodies and Airbus widebodies.

[KK Lee 5]

Well the options are a bit different now.

 

For the regional A333 replacement, the easiest and cheapest way is the A339.

 

The A350 (already on order) is the only long haul aircraft that they need to replace their B744s, B77Es and A380s. They don't need any other aircraft for flights over 10 hours.

 

So the fleet now looks very simple. Boeing narrow bodies and Airbus widebodies.

 

FSC yield and load is optimized when capacity is matched with demand. With limited fleet mix, MH yield and load is unlikely to optimize.

[flee 5]

FSC yield and load is optimized when capacity is matched with demand. With limited fleet mix, MH yield and load is unlikely to optimize.

MH is a small airline - if its fleet is too complex, operating costs will be too high for the volume of business that it is doing because it cannot achieve the efficiencies needed. Its a delicate balance and only the best managers can work out what is best. Although MH is a FSC, it plays below that market because its home market is highly price sensitive. Its yields will never approach the levels of other FSCs like CX or SQ. So it has to be careful with the resources that it has and not waste them like they did in the past.

[KK Lee 5]

MH is a small airline - if its fleet is too complex, operating costs will be too high for the volume of business that it is doing because it cannot achieve the efficiencies needed. Its a delicate balance and only the best managers can work out what is best. Although MH is a FSC, it plays below that market because its home market is highly price sensitive. Its yields will never approach the levels of other FSCs like CX or SQ. So it has to be careful with the resources that it has and not waste them like they did in the past.

Mh is small because it has consistently failed to understand or give what customers want.

[Khalil Abd Halim 0]

unfortunately no prelim flights to kul but this will be deployed to cnx and then straight to australia..but one can always hope they will be tg-ed with equipment change with this plane

[Kris Kim 0]

The first 2 will pretty much be dedicated to BKK-MEL, TG465/466 goes A350 from 16SEP, then TG461/462 goes A350 from 01OCT. Though anything can happen between now and 16SEP! Though they will mainly be doing CNX and HKT until MEL starts.

[flee 5]

Thai Airways delays first A350 XWB services to Melbourne

 

Thai Airways International, which took delivery of its first Airbus A350 XWB Aug. 30, will delay launching the first scheduled service to Melbourne Airport because of additional inspections and requirements from Australian authorities.

Thai Airways president Charamporn Jotikasthira said in a statement that the A350 XWB approval process “is not able to be completed in time for Thai to operate the maiden flight by Sept. 16. Previously in 2014, the approval of Thai’s first Boeing 787-8 was much shorter. Thai, therefore, needs to delay operating the A350 XWB to Melbourne until the authorities have completed their approval process.”

Full report: http://atwonline.com/airports-routes/thai-airways-delays-first-a350-xwb-services-melbourne

[Mohd Suhaimi Fariz 2]

It seems the plane skidded off the runway in rain

 

https://twitter.com/A350Blog/status/778688753896259584