Thai Summer Airways (AST, Utapao) is taking steps to launch operations after a two-year delay caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and has taken delivery of its first B737-800 as of February 24, 2022.
HS-TSD (msn 34547) is a 12.7-year-old aircraft formerly operated by SAS Scandinavian Airlines (SK, Copenhagen Kastrup) and owned by Minsheng Financial Leasing, the ch-aviation fleets module shows. It was retired by the previous operator in April 2021 and had been stored at Woensdrecht since late July 2021, Flightradar24 ADS-B data shows. It was reactivated and flown via Dubai International to Utapao over the course of February 23-24.
The airline said it is planning to announce "good news" soon but did not provide any further updates regarding its launch timeline.
Thai Summer Airways received its Air Operator's Certificate (AOC) in September 2020, behind its original schedule which foresaw the launch of operations in May 2020. However, as the airline planned to rely on international leisure charters, it deferred the commencement of flights indefinitely as Thailand remained closed to foreign tourism. It then returned both B737-800s dry-leased from Tokyo Century in October 2021.
Thai Summer Airways' AOC is valid through September 29, 2022.
