Airlines
THAI delays A350 Melbourne launch
September 15th 2016
Thai Airways International (THAI) has delayed the debut of its A350-900 to Melbourne because of “additional inspections and requirements from Australian authorities on THAI’s newest aircraft type". Read More »
The Star Alliance carrier took delivery of its first A350 (HS-THB; “Wichian Buri”) at the end of August, and had been due to roster the aircraft onto the Bangkok-Melbourne route in mid-September.
But in a statement THAI on Monday said the additional checks meant that "the approval process is not able to be completed in time for THAI to operate the maiden flight by September 16, 2016".
The 56-year-old flag carrier now hopes to get approval in time for the start of the winter schedule from October 30, and it said that "In the meantime, THAI will operate the A350 between Bangkok-Chiang Mai and Bangkok-Phuket, which will give passengers in Thailand more opportunities to experience the elegance of the THAI A350".
The airline said it would continue to operate a normal schedule to Melbourne through to October 30, with two daily B777 rotations.
Next year, the A350 will be rostered on flights to Sydney, Auckland, Seoul and Tokyo, if the carrier applies for the relevant permits in time.
THAI configures the A350 with 321 seats, 32 in Royal Silk business class and 289 in economy class. Upfront, it has installed Sogerma’s Solstys seat, while in economy class it has opted for B/E Aerospace’s Pinnacle model.
Singapore Airlines currently deploys the A350 on one of four daily flights to Melbourne. Cathay Pacific Airways has announced the A350 to Melbourne from February.
In separate news, Thailand and neighbouring Cambodia have agreed to remove weekly seat quotas on commercial flights between the two countries, previously officially capped at 5,300 passengers a week from each side. The decision to abolish the quota came after a review showed there were in fact 108 flights/18,312 seats available from Thailand to Cambodia each week, whereas there were 7 flights/1,288 seats available per week from Cambodia to Thailand, Thai transport minister, Arkhom Termpittayapaisith, told the Bangkok Post.
