Thai Airways Plans 65 New Planes In 10 Years

[peter991]

Thai Airways plans 65 new planes in 10 years

Thai Airways International has announced plans to purchase 65 new planes over the next ten years, according to President, Apinan Sumanaseni.

The fleet expansion will include retiring 47 aircraft and will cost an estimated US$11.4 billion. The new order is not including the 15 planes Thai has already committed to.

By 2017 the airline is expected to own 117 planes to service its global network.

The new order will include eight jumbo Boeing 747-8 planes, Boeing 737-900, Boeing 787-9, Airbus A350, and Airbus A321 aircraft.

The airline has also said it is looking to procure 16 long-range aircraft with a capacity of 300-500 seats, 29 medium-range planes with a 250-350 capacity and another 20 aircraft able to host 150-250 seats.

Thai said it has yet to decide how to fund the potentially new aircraft orders.

Peter

[cdnvic]

That's a lot of different aircraft that can do the same job (A350/787, 747-800/A380, 737/A321). Makes for too much extra cost and less flexibility in crew training and maintenance if you ask me.

[ThaidleHands]

The substance and timing of this announcement -- it was news on Tuesday -- can easily be perceived as opportunistic and inappropriate on the part of Thai Airways.

[cclub75]

Thai said it has yet to decide how to fund the potentially new aircraft orders.

Gentlemen... that's the most important quote.

400 billions THB, over 10 years ?

How ?

Mai ru. That's the beauty of the whole "announcement".

However, I don't see malice in the date of this "announcement"... Actually, they talked about it in the past. Many times.

And even the BOT governor was saying that it would be good to reduce the trade surplus, and therefore would curb the increase of THB...

Anyway. We will talk about it again... when they will put the orders....

Edited September 20, 2007 by cclub75

[Carmine6]

Thai said it has yet to decide how to fund the potentially new aircraft orders.

Gentlemen... that's the most important quote.

400 billions THB, over 10 years ?

How ?

Mai ru. That's the beauty of the whole "announcement".

However, I don't see malice in the date of this "announcement"... Actually, they talked about it in the past. Many times.

And even the BOT governor was saying that it would be good to reduce the trade surplus, and therefore would curb the increase of THB...

Anyway. We will talk about it again... when they will put the orders....

I think this follows the lease vs. buy discussion from a few months ago. Thai Airways wanted to issue debt to buy aircraft, but the Thai Finance Ministry or someone similar recommended they lease them instead.