Thailand’s flag carrier Thai Airways is reportedly looking to acquire from 20 to 30 new aircraft by 2025 to facilitate future air travel needs once the Covid-19 crisis is under control. The estimated cost of the 30 planes could be up to THB 100 billion (approximately USD 3.1 billion). The new acquisition will strengthen Thai Airways’ fleet with fuel-efficient aircraft and replace the aircraft sold or decommissioned.
According to Thai Aircraft Trading, the airline has listed 42 aircraft for sale, including:
- 10 x Boeing 747-400s
- 2 x Airbus A380-800s
- 12 x Boeing 777-200s
- 6 x Boeing 777-300s
- 3 x Airbus A340-500s
- 6 x Airbus A340-600s
- 1 x Airbus A300-600
- 2 x Boeing 737-400s
With most of its fleet still grounded given the ongoing pandemic, Thai Airways is undergoing a court-supervised restructuring to trim debt and return to profit. The carrier submitted the debt recast plan to the Central Bankruptcy Court of Thailand in March 2021 and is expecting the creditors to vote on it in May 2021.
(Sources: Aviation Voice; Simple Flying; The Nation)
