In response to Transport Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit’s expressed concerns, THAI CEO Chai Eamsiri stated on Wednesday that the proposal to acquire 45 new aircraft is an integral part of the company’s approved rehabilitation plan by the bankruptcy court.
Chai emphasized that the acquisition of the new fleet will be executed in a suitable ratio of leasing and hire-purchase contracts. He also mentioned that the final specifics of the acquisition plan will be disclosed at the upcoming Singapore Airshow, running from February 20 to 25.
Addressing Suriya’s apprehensions regarding the impact of the new fleet acquisition on the carrier’s financial standing, Chai underscored the necessity to replenish THAI’s fleet, bringing it up to the 2013 level. Furthermore, THAI aims to enhance its market ratio at Suvarnabhumi International Airport, an aspect that saw a decline from 51.3% to 27% last year.
Chai elaborated that in 2013, THAI operated a fleet of 100 planes. However, due to the standstill in the airline industry caused by Covid-19 and the company’s entry into the rehabilitation program, many of its decommissioned planes had aged, rendering maintenance impractical. By the end of 2022, THAI’s operational fleet had reduced by 35% to 64 planes compared to 2013.
To address this shortfall, the airline began leasing planes in 2022 and 2023, adding 21 wide-body aircraft to its fleet, with most being Airbus 350 featuring Trent XWB engines from Rolls-Royce.
THAI plans to start leasing narrow-bodied Airbus 321 Neo aircraft in the fourth quarter of 2025. As a result of the leasing, the airline expanded its fleet to 70 planes in the previous year, with an anticipated increase to 79 this year and 90 next year.
However, as some leasing contracts are due to expire and older planes are scheduled for decommissioning, THAI’s fleet is projected to diminish to 51 planes by 2033, noting a 49% decrease from 2013.
Subsequently, to align with its plan to augment the market ratio, THAI aims to acquire 45 planes, elevating its fleet to 96 by 2033, according to Chai.
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