5 hours ago, Wiggy said:

They bought 10 of them. The A340 was launched in 1993, but was followed in 1995 by the B777 which had similar range and payload but with only two engines, thus practically killing sales of the A340, of which only 378 were manufactured. Whereas more than 1,500 777s  have been delivered thus far.

I think they still have 9 in mothballs because selling them for their real value would mean taking a big loss on the books. The 10th one was transferred to the government. Maybe our esteemed leader and his deputy use this plane to get around.

6 hours ago, webfact said:

Photo credit : Twitter One's Way#YNWA @khongsak

that poster is in trouble...

(except if it is Prawit's grandnephew twice removed)

6 hours ago, Wiggy said:

No wonder they are losing so much money with only 97 passengers on a 747. Admittedly there could have been more on the outbound flight, but I doubt if it was the 400+ a 747 can hold, as it's too much of an imbalance. That said, it was a change of equipment from the usual 777.

Wonder how it is with planes from Europe?

Wish you people would stop  talking like this, my stewardess girlfriend of the time talked me into buying shares when THAI went public at B60 per share.Wonderful investment I must say--not.

i guess thai airways ticket pricing will be going up again. The problem is they dont have enough money. der...

  Any landing you can walk away from is a good landing.

Doesn't seem to be very profitable, using such a big plane that is mostly empty.

This one's an easy call, Blame the First Officer who is really in charge of the landing brakes.

28 minutes ago, hansnl said:

Wonder how it is with planes from Europe?

 

Usually, when I've flown from Europe to Bangkok the planes are quite full, but there are few people - certainly less than 100 - collecting luggage. Most are merely in transit and have no wish to spend time in the Land of Scowls.

6 hours ago, Wiggy said:

They bought 10 of them. The A340 was launched in 1993, but was followed in 1995 by the B777 which had similar range and payload but with only two engines, thus practically killing sales of the A340, of which only 378 were manufactured. Whereas more than 1,500 777s  have been delivered thus far.

Just saw the figures. There are bigger buyers than THAI

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Airbus_A340_operators

http://www.modernairliners.com/airbus-a340-orders-and-deliveries/

 

Edited October 9, 20187 yr by ravip
Correction

6 hours ago, MekkOne said:

must get them here, no matter what, we need Chinese.

 

Another incident to jolt Thai - Sino tourism relationships. Maybe the few passengers were not Chinese. They usually fly on Chinese Airlines.

56 minutes ago, newnative said:

  Any landing you can walk away from is a good landing.

I think that's what pilots say but I am not so sure these passengers would agree. 

I flew from BKK with Qantas a few years ago and did not realize we were on the ground at LHR until the brakes were applied - that is what I call a good landing. I felt it deserved an applause like in the old days but resisted. 

I still couldn't walk away though because of a broken leg courtesy of a Thai bus driver falling asleep.

Edited October 9, 20187 yr by chang1

7 hours ago, Wiggy said:

No wonder they are losing so much money with only 97 passengers on a 747. Admittedly there could have been more on the outbound flight, but I doubt if it was the 400+ a 747 can hold, as it's too much of an imbalance. That said, it was a change of equipment from the usual 777.

 

 

747-400 can accommodate 416 passengers in a typical three-class layout, 524 passengers in a typical two-class layout, or a maximum capacity of 660 passengers in a high–density one-class configuration 

I see an airplane and I want it painted black
No colours anymore, I want them to turn black
I see the girls walk by dressed in their summer clothes
I have to turn my head until my darkness goes
 

14 minutes ago, atyclb said:

I see an airplane and I want it painted black
No colours anymore, I want them to turn black
I see the girls walk by dressed in their summer clothes
I have to turn my head until my darkness goes
 

 

The A340 is actually a great plane, designed for extra long haul.

I flew in it many times to Auckland, but under 14 hours not profitable

Thai used it on the New York  direct as did Singapore airlines, 

The only plane that could do the 17 hour flight at that time

At least 2 European airlines still fly them here.

EFTPOS made a 4 engine plane be able to fly straight whereas a 2 engine had restrictions making for flight deviations on route as 

having to be a certain distance from a suitable landing strip

7 hours ago, lanista said:

97 passengers on a 747-400 from a major Chinese city ! Good indication that the Chinese really are pissed with the Land of Wicked Smiles.

How many Chinese did the TAT say were coming here this year?  12 million or was it 20 million before the ferry massacre and Chinese 'punch in face' deal at Swampy airport.

Thats a hell of alot of near empty 747's.

Most airlines dont even use those 4 engine planes anymore.

What do you expect for a Monday evening flight after a week long holiday in China?  I'm surprised there was 97 passengers.  <deleted> people on this forum are awful quick to come to judgement...

Qantas did a much better job when a 747-400 went into the golf course at Don Muang in the 90's.

 

For all you Thai bashers Emrites flew an A 380 from Dubai to Perth with 87 passengers on it last month (but OK as they get their fuel for free in Dubai ) making it not an even playing field

8 hours ago, Esso49 said:

Hand brake turns require skill to carry out correctly  ????

Give them a break, (perhaps a brake as well?), the runway was "slippy" as it had been raining.....apparently an unusual occurrence in Thailand.

18 minutes ago, Days Off said:

What do you expect for a Monday evening flight after a week long holiday in China?  I'm surprised there was 97 passengers.  <deleted> people on this forum are awful quick to come to judgement...

That's because the keyboard is so handy!  If we had to send a letter there would be no response at all.

8 hours ago, Wiggy said:

No wonder they are losing so much money with only 97 passengers on a 747. Admittedly there could have been more on the outbound flight, but I doubt if it was the 400+ a 747 can hold, as it's too much of an imbalance. That said, it was a change of equipment from the usual 777.

Well, 18 crew members is quite a lot for 97 passengers. Cancellations?

 

Don't forget that Thai Air takes in a lot of cargo. Maybe that's why they use these big planes on short hauls. Cargo is good biss. CNX-BKK is about 26 Baht/kg. 60 x 26=1560 Baht. So transporting people is costly.

They have the same problem when driving a car.

Don't worry, we can blame it on a farang, it's a Boeing !    Rain = Slam it on the ground !     Aqua bye bye.........

8 hours ago, lanista said:

97 passengers on a 747-400 from a major Chinese city ! Good indication that the Chinese really are pissed with the Land of Wicked Smiles.

How many Chinese did the TAT say were coming here this year?  12 million or was it 20 million before the ferry massacre and Chinese 'punch in face' deal at Swampy airport.

Thats a hell of alot of near empty 747's.

Most airlines dont even use those 4 engine planes anymore.

 

Didnt THAI get a good deal(scammed) in the 1990's with the French for Airbus A340's which had 4 engines? A disasterous plane that flopped with very few orders.

THAI bought many or most of them ..LOL

Well done THAI.

Stay classy.

Know what you talking about before you open your mouth. ThE Chinese Punch in the Face was NOT at Swampy it was Donmarang.

2 minutes ago, Slickrick said:

They have the same problem when driving a car.

almost! ... one involves runways, and the other - runaways

The previous flight to Guangzhou TG678 was almost full at 344 pax...

 

Thailand has finally roped in the Air to include into their accident comprehensiveness. Therefore, everywhere in this country is not safe now....LOL 

1 hour ago, atyclb said:

 

 

747-400 can accommodate 416 passengers in a typical three-class layout, 524 passengers in a typical two-class layout, or a maximum capacity of 660 passengers in a high–density one-class configuration 

A 747 flew a record 1,087 passengers back in 1991 on some sort of rescue flight carrying Ethiopian Jews to Israel.  Hard to believe they could get that many in. 

Runway now back in action. Police hunting for illegal Burmese workers responsible for putting rain on the runway.