Thai Airways, which is facing a period of readjustment in its finances, recently declared that by 2024 it plans to retire all its Boeing 747, 777-200 and 777-300 aircraft.
Thai Airways currently has seven Boeing 747-400 aircraft in its fleet, in addition to six Boeing 777-200, six 777-200ER and six 777-300 aircraft.
In total, 25 large aircraft will be retired, all with an average use currently of 15 to 19 years.
Without these planes, Thai Airways now relies exclusively on its fleet of 14 Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, as well as eight aircraft from the 787 Dreamliner family, 12 of the A350 model and also its double-deck aircraft, the Airbus A380, six on the total.
The company did not disclose many details, such as the retirement schedule, but said that fleet renewal is important for the company to remain financially sustainable.
The Boeing 787 Dreamliner, the Boeing 777-300ER and the Airbus A350 are more efficient aircraft models when compared to the Boeing 747-400 and the first versions of the 777.
However, this fleet renewal process could mean a reduction in the number of seats, as the company only plans to withdraw aircraft, without ordering more aircraft. The focus here will be on keeping flights on the most profitable routes.
Here's what Thai Airways' large fleet will look like in 2024:
- 16 Airbus A330-300
- 12 Airbus A350-900
- 6 Airbus A380
- 14 Boeing 777-300ER
- 6 Boeing 787-8s
- 2 Boeing 787-9s
