Thailand's National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) has cleared three former politicians of graft over the procurement of ten A340s for Thai Airways International (TG, Bangkok Suvarnabhumi) during 2003-2004.
Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, former deputy transport minister Pichet Sathitchawan, former chairman of the Thai Airways board Thanong Pittaya, and former Thai Airways president Kanok Apiradee all faced dereliction of duty charges relating to the aircraft's acquisition process, which was found to be corrupt and to have substantially contributed to the state-owned carrier's ongoing financial woes.
Between 2002 and 2004, the then Thaksin-led Thai cabinet approved a plan by Thai Airways to buy four A340-500s and six A340-600 for THB53.5 billion baht (USD1.54 billion). The ten aircraft arrived between 2005 and 2008 and exited between 2012 and 2015. However, the quadjets accumulated losses of THB7 billion (USD202.1 million) in the first three years of operations on just two routes.
However, in a July 12 media interview, Pichet said the NACC had told him it would discontinue the charges against all four men. Notably, the NACC's decision comes ahead of Thaksin's planned return to Thailand later this month after several years in exile abroad.
Despite Thai Airways retiring the A340s between eight and 11 years ago, it has only managed to shift one of the planes - an A340-500 (HS-TYV (msn 698)) that went to the Royal Thai Air Force (Bangkok Don Mueang) in 2016 to serve as a VIP aircraft. Thai Airways has parked the three remaining A340-500s at Bangkok Don Mueang and the six A340-600s are at UATA!UTP.
However, Thailand-based news outlet The Nation reported last year that the airline managed to sell an additional A340-500 and four A340-600s to an undisclosed buyer for THB350 million (USD10.01 million). Citing Thai Airways chief technical officer Cherdphan Chotikhun, the outlet said the price was above the aircraft's assessed value, the contract had been signed, and the parties were now awaiting Thai Ministry of Transport approval to transfer ownership. Cherdphan added that talks were underway with prospective buyers concerning the remaining four A340s.
