Thai Airways International (THAI) has indicated that its plans for expanding flights and routes may be delayed due to difficulties in acquiring enough additional passenger jets. The airline is actively seeking to lease wide-body aircraft to support its expanded European routes, with CEO Chai Eamsiri noting that leased planes will serve as a temporary solution until new aircraft deliveries begin in 2027.
Globally, airlines are facing a significant aircraft shortage as Boeing and Airbus struggle to meet demand, leading many to retain older aircraft and pay higher leasing costs. This supply constraint is impeding the aviation industry’s growth.
Chai mentioned that over the next two years, Thai Airways could face a notable shortfall in seat capacity needed to achieve its growth targets. If the airline cannot secure new wide-body planes by the first half of 2026, it may be forced to pause the launch of new routes and flights.
By the end of 2026, THAI plans to add approximately 17 narrow-body aircraft, primarily for services within Asia, to support its efforts to establish Bangkok as a regional hub connecting to European cities. Currently, around half of the airline’s revenue comes from Asian routes, with European flights accounting for about one-third.
Despite these expansion hurdles, Chai expects strong earnings in the second half of the year, driven by high passenger demand for flights to Europe, India, and Australia. The airline reported a significant second-quarter profit increase to 12.1 billion baht from 306 million baht the previous year, supported by lower finance costs and one-time gains, including the termination of lease agreements. Revenue also rose 14% year-on-year to 51 billion baht.