Thai Airways International (TG, Bangkok Suvarnabhumi) has been forced to delay the launch of its first A350-900-operated international route - Bangkok Suvarnabhumi-Melbourne Tullamarine, Australia - airline president Charamporn Jotikasthira has revealed.
In an interview with The Bangkok Post, Charamporn attributed the delays to the Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority's (CASA) lengthy type certification procedures. As such, the first A350 longhaul service, which was scheduled for September 16, has now been pushed back indefinitely.
Until such time that it does get the official nod from Canberra, the aircraft will be retained on domestic Thai services from Bangkok Suvarnabhumi to Chiang Mai and Phuket.
Thai Airways took delivery of its first of twelve A350-900s - HS-THB (cn 44) - on August 30.
