Thai Airways International (TG, Bangkok Suvarnabhumi) is in talks with manufacturers and lessors about a new order for up to 90 aircraft, which would be heavily skewed towards widebody aircraft, Bloomberg has reported citing internal sources.
The new commitment - which is likely to include a mix of firm orders, options, and purchase rights - could comprise around 80 widebody aircraft directly from the manufacturers. The airline is also in talks about a lease of a much smaller number of narrowbodies. While the exact terms of the transaction remain under confidential negotiations, sources said the airline could select around forty B787s from Boeing.
The Thai flag carrier is rapidly recovering from the Covid-19 crisis. With tourism in Thailand rebounding, the airline has posted four consecutive quarterly profits and aims to rebuild its fleet to and above the pre-pandemic level.
During its Covid-related restructuring - which will formally be over in 2024 - Thai Airways shrank its fleet and currently operates three A330-300s, sixteen A350-900s, six B777-200ERs, seventeen B777-300(ER)s, six B787-8s, and two B787-9s. It also operates twenty A320-200s, of which ten remain on the AOC of Thai Smile, which will soon be merged into the mainline carrier.
As an interim solution until the deliveries of the to-be-ordered aircraft begin, the carrier is actively pursuing new leases and recently revealed a plan to add a further 23 aircraft by the end of 2025, including eight more A350-900s (two of which are due for delivery by the end of 2023), two A330-300s, one B787-9s, and twelve A321s.
