Thai Airways International (THAI) is set to ask its board for approval on October 23 to lease eight to ten widebody aircraft in the short term, according to CEO Chai Eamsiri. The proposal involves leasing six Boeing 787s and three Boeing 777-300ERs for six years. If approved, the first planes are expected to arrive around mid-2026. This initiative aims to address a potential capacity shortfall before the airline’s new fleet of Boeing 787s—part of a 45-aircraft order—begins arriving in early 2028.
Eamsiri highlighted that failing to secure these leases could disrupt THAI’s network strategy by causing an imbalance between narrowbody and widebody operations. The carrier plans to receive 17 Airbus A321neos between late 2025 and 2026, primarily for regional routes. Without sufficient widebody capacity, THAI might need to shift to a point-to-point model, competing directly with low-cost carriers instead of maintaining its full-service network.
Additionally, THAI is considering exercising options to purchase up to 35 more aircraft beyond its existing 787 order.
The airline reported that its third-quarter 2025 performance aligned with expectations, and full-year revenue remains on track at THB 190 billion.