Thai Airways International Public Company Limited held a media briefing on its route network and fleet strategies, in accordance to the corporate strategy plan.
Mr. Chokchai Panyayong, THAI’s Executive Vice President for Strategy & Business Development Department, said that due increased competition over the next five years as well as open skies in Asia and various regions worldwide, the quality of products and services will be improved to meet customer expectations. Therefore, the Company’s fleet development plan includes plans for more modern inflight products and services as well as a more competitive fleet.
THAI’s route network strategy aims to continue developing Bangkok as the main hub by enhancing its schedule for more connectivity. The Company will also increase production on profitable routes that are part of its regional and European network. Cooperation on alliance and strategic partnerships will be leveraged in order to expand the Company’s network. Secondary domestic and regional routes will be expanded through Nok Air, its low-fare budget carrier, following THAI’s two-brand strategy.
The Company’s fleet strategy aims to improve fleet efficiency and reduce carbon emissions by controlling the proper number of aircraft in the fleet and production that matches market demand, while working on fleet simplification in the long-term.
Fleet Development Plan
THAI’s fleet development plan for the next 10-15 years will cover the period of 2010-2024, in 3 phases:
During 2010-2014, the Company plans to phase-out 25 aging aircraft, take delivery of 9 Government-approved aircraft, and acquire 15 aircraft.
During 2015-2019, the Company plans to phase-out 32 aging aircraft and acquire new aircraft to replace those that have been phased-out, for future network growth at no less than 38 aircraft.
During 2020-2024, the Company plans to phase-out 20 aging aircraft and acquire new aircraft to replace those that have been phased-out, for future network growth at no less than 28 aircraft.
Aircraft Acquisition Plan 2010-2014
THAI will phase-out the following aging aircraft: 6 Boeing 747-400 aircraft, 10 Airbus A300-600 aircraft, 4 Airbus A340-500 aircraft, 3 Boeing 737-400 aircraft, and 2 ATR-72 aircraft.
As for the delivery plan of 9 Government-approved aircraft, they consist of: 3 Airbus A330-300 aircraft and 6 Airbus A380-800 aircraft.
THAI will acquire 15 new aircraft that will be utilized as follows: 7 aircraft equipped with 300-seats on regional routes and 8 aircraft equipped with 350-seats on intercontinental flights.
These newly acquired aircraft will be serve the following intercontinental routes: Copenhagen, Stockholm, Los Angeles, and Oslo. On regional routes, aircraft will be utilized to: Perth, Dubai, Shanghai, Taipei, Mumbai (Bombay), Kolkata (Calcutta), and Bengaluru (Bangalore).