Impact on Thai Airways as it fails to secure new aircraft lease this year

A source within THAI confirmed that during the October 23 meeting, the decision to approve the proposed lease, which included Airbus A330-200 and Boeing 787-8 models, was deferred. The board raised concerns that these aircraft models, being outdated, could prove uneconomical due to high maintenance costs.

In response, the board approved hiring an external consultancy to assess the feasibility of leasing these aircraft and to review THAI’s broader fleet strategy, which aims for a long-term fleet of 150 aircraft, as outlined in the airline’s recovery plan. The consultancy will ensure the fleet strategy aligns with current market conditions.

The delay in aircraft procurement is expected to impact THAI’s operations in the coming year. By 2026, 10 wide-body aircraft are set to retire, reducing the fleet from 58 to 47 wide-body planes. This reduction will directly affect THAI’s capacity, potentially leading to a decline in revenues.