News
THAI to defer A350s and B787s
January 22nd 2016
Not a single week goes by without more worrying news emerging at Thai Airways International (THAI). On Wednesday, the Thai flag carrier said it would delay the delivery of 14 aircraft – twelve A350s and two B787s – for three years to reduce operating costs. Read More »
Two A350s and the two B787s were to be delivered to THAI this year. "We will negotiate with aircraft makers to postpone the delivery due in 2016 to 2018," THAI CEO, Charamporn Jotikasthira, said. He added the airline also aims to sell 14 planes this year as part of its plan to reduce its fleet to 95 aircraft.
In 2015, THAI’s load factor stood at 73.3%, up from 68.9% in 2014, Charamporn said.
THAI is planning to transfer its remaining five A320s to regional hybrid subsidiary, Thai Smile, by year-end, CAPA has reported, which the consultancy calculated would reduce the cost of A320 operations and support THAI’s overall efforts to return to profitability. THAI A320 operations are cost prohibitive because pilots are paid mainline salaries compared with their counterparts at Thai Smile, which has a much lower cost structure.
