reader Posted September 21, 2021 Posted September 21, 2021 From Bangkok Post Cash-strapped Thai Airways International (THAI) is putting three aircraft along with a flight simulator up for sale, as a part of its financial rehabilitation plan and the ongoing push to modernise its ageing fleet, a source in the company said. According to the source, the ailing carrier has listed three of its Airbus A330-300s -- aged 12.2, 12.5 and 12.6 years, respectively, for sale -- along with a flight simulator for the aircraft model. THAI has 15 A330-300s in its fleet, but they wide-bodied jets are currently grounded because of the minimal demand for air travel amid the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. In total, the flag-carrier has put up 34 of its aircraft for sale since November last year, including 10 Boeing 747-400s, six Boeing 777-200s, and six Boeing 777-300s. It has also let go of its six Airbus A340-600ds, three A340-500s, two Boeing 737-400s and an Airbus A300-600. THAI had been haemorrhaging money for years, and last year it sought the help of the Central Bankruptcy Court, after the Covid-19 pandemic forced the grounding of its entire fleet. The airline's independent director, Piyasvasti Amranand, who is one of the airline's rehabilitation plan administrators, went on Facebook saying that THAI can sell 10 Boeing 747s if the Transport Ministry approves their sale. However, Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob said the ministry has not received any request of that nature. https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/2184979/thai-sells-more-planes Quote
PeterRS Posted September 21, 2021 Posted September 21, 2021 THAI has been unable to sell most of its A340s for well over a decade, ever since 2008 when it gave up its daily non-stop JFK route for which they were purchased. With no buyer for 13 years, I wonder how it is going to offload other outdated aircraft. Does any carrier still have plans now for the 747-400s? Only the -800 series with the slightly longer upper deck seems to be flying and it did not get many orders. Quote
reader Posted September 21, 2021 Author Posted September 21, 2021 The 747-400 was the best-selling model of the 747 series with 694 deliveries over its 20-year production span. Because of its high cargo-carrying capacity, I'd imagine some are being repurposed to answer that need. The more recent 747-800 series was launched in 2005 and has logged 145 deliveries and 10 pending (48 in the freighter configuration). UPS (23) and Lufthansa (19) are the biggest buyers. vinapu 1 Quote
