News
THAI A350 enters flight test phase and Kan Air eyes A320s
July 8th 2016
The first of twelve on-order A350-900s for Thai Airways International (THAI) has rolled out from the cabin furnishing and engine installation centre at Airbus’ final assembly line in Toulouse. The aircraft will now undergo ground and flight testing. Read More »
THAI will take delivery of its first A350 at the end of August, with double daily flights connecting its Bangkok hub with Melbourne now scheduled to commence in September. The -900s will replace older B777s in the flag carrier’s fleet, THAI CEO, Charamporn Jotikasthira, has told Orient Aviation.
THAI fits the A350 with 32 1-2-1-configured business class and 289 3-3-3-confirgured economy class seats.
Separately, from July 1, THAI transferred its daily A330/B777 services to Chongqing and Penang to its Thai Smile A320 hybrid subsidiary, resulting in up to 50% less capacity on both routes.
"The transfer of flights to Thai Smile Airways follows the corporate strategic plan for Thai Smile to operate to secondary cities in ASEAN and the region, while Thai focuses on marketing and sales," the carrier said.
Thai Smile will also launch new services to Cebu, Medan and Surabaya this year.
Charamporn has told Orient Aviation that interlining between Thai Smile and mainline THAI is still an issue because of different reservation systems. The chief hopes to eliminate this barrier over time, in addition to creating greater synergies between the flag carrier and the hybrid.
In other Thai aviation updates, Chiang Mai-based Kan Air plans to acquire up to six A320 Family aircraft after original plans to lease a trio of SSJ 100-95s fell through, the airline’s chief, Somphong Sooksanguan, was quoted as saying in the Bangkok Post.
Sooksanguan said talks with lessors for either A319s or A320s were underway, with the first two aircraft hopefully arriving before year-end. The carrier plans to use the Airbus jets initially for flights from Chiang Mai to Suvarnabhumi, Ubon Ratchathani and U-Tapao.
Kan Air currently operates a single Cessna Grand Caravan 208B on an average ten daily services.
