Thai Airways International has announced that it will press on with its project to build a USD 339 million maintenance facility east of Bangkok, after its partner Airbus dropped out due to the impact of the Covid-19 virus on air travel.
According to the deputy secretary-general for infrastructure, Thai Airways sees the project to build the maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility as a necessity for the company and so it will move forward, either on its own or with a partner. However, Thai Airways International and Airbus will still cooperate on technology.
There is still time for Thai Airways to find a new partner as the construction on the facility’s hangar is at an initial phase, and will take up to four years. The maintenance hub is part of the government’s project around the joint civil-military U-Tapao Airport, 150 kilometers east of Bangkok. Moreover, the government expects to sign a THB 290 billion (USD 9 billion) agreement with BBS Joint Venture for the development of the airport and aviation city.
(Sources: Reuters; Bangkok post)
