Whats with Bangkok Airways now?

[teemuj]

Seems that they have rented out a lot of different aircraft to operate certain sections like Phnom Penh and Dhaka. Interesting service providers though: Bulgarian Air and DrugAir (Bhutan).

[Ricardo]

It's very normal IMO to dry/wet-lease aircraft, from other airlines, to meet a medium-term need until new planes ordered-from-the-manufacturer are delivered.

Thai Airways were operating B777-300s owned by Jet Airways, for the past couple of years, although I believe they've now been returned.

Nok Air also used to lease-in extra aircraft, to cover the busy winter-season here, returning them pre-Easter to their owners.

IME charter airlines in Europe often fly double the hours in the summer, that they do in the winter, and therefore also try to lease-out some of their aircraft in winter.

Edited January 25, 2014 by Ricardo

[merijn]

It's very normal IMO to dry/wet-lease aircraft, from other airlines, to meet a medium-term need until new planes ordered-from-the-manufacturer are delivered.

Thai Airways were operating B777-300s owned by Jet Airways, for the past couple of years, although I believe they've now been returned.

Nok Air also used to lease-in extra aircraft, to cover the busy winter-season here, returning them pre-Easter to their owners.

IME charter airlines in Europe often fly double the hours in the summer, that they do in the winter, and therefore also try to lease-out some of their aircraft in winter.

The Jet Airways 777 planes which Thai airways wetleased are indeed returned and are now flying for Turkish Airlines on the IST - BKK route. ( and some other routes )

[flyingdoc]

Very many airlines lease aircraft either from other airlines or leasing companies direct.

Just look at the mass of planes stored in the Mohave desert if they own them outright and don't have the anticipated use for them !

[thailandbeachisland]

Don;t worry, everything is as safe as it can be in Thailand <3

[tso310]

Most probably they have an aircraft or 2 having a C or D maintenance check, hence leasing an aircraft to cover this.

[Foxxster]

Most probably they have an aircraft or 2 having a C or D maintenance check, hence leasing an aircraft to cover this.

Would the lease of the aircraft also include the crew? I flew on the Bulgarian airlines plane in December and the crew were also Bulgarian. I was very surprised too at this, - that Bangkok Air would use a Bulgarian plane.

[merijn]

Most probably they have an aircraft or 2 having a C or D maintenance check, hence leasing an aircraft to cover this.

Would the lease of the aircraft also include the crew? I flew on the Bulgarian airlines plane in December and the crew were also Bulgarian. I was very surprised too at this, - that Bangkok Air would use a Bulgarian plane.

Depends on the type of lease.

Wet leased normally includes also the (core) crew of the airline.

For example, the Jet Airways planes wet leased to Turkish airlines flies with at least 1 Indian Pilot and 1 Indian Cabin Crew chef.

The rest of the plane are staffed by Turkish Airlines employees.

[bra]

I know we are not supposed to correct English spelling, but the airline of Bhutan is Druk Air not Drug Air - a significant correction.

Edited February 3, 2014 by bra

[teemuj]

I thought DrugAir sounded better. Yes both they and Bulgarian Air provide core crew with one or two Thai's thrown in as a good measure to speak the thai parts of the flight info...