THAI to sell three more aircraft

Dhaka: Debt-laden Thai Airways International is putting three aircraft and a flight simulator up for sale, as a part of its financial rehabilitation plan and the ongoing push to modernise its ageing fleet.

According to reports, the struggling carrier has listed three of its Airbus A330-300s -- aged 12.2, 12.5 and 12.6 years, respectively, for sale -- along with a flight simulator for the aircraft model.

THAI has 15 A330-300s in its fleet, but they wide-bodied jets are currently grounded because of the minimal demand for air travel amid the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

In total, the flag-carrier has put up 34 of its aircraft for sale since November 2020, including 10 Boeing 747-400s, six Boeing 777-200s, and six Boeing 777-300s. It has also let go of its six Airbus A340-600ds, three A340-500s, two Boeing 737-400s and an Airbus A300-600.

THAI had been hemorrhaging money for years, and last year it sought the help of the Central Bankruptcy Court, after the Covid-19 pandemic forced the grounding of its entire fleet.

The airline's Independent Director, Piyasvasti Amranand, who is one of the airline's rehabilitation plan administrators, went on social media saying that THAI can sell 10 Boeing 747s if the Transport Ministry approves their sale. However, Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob denied that the ministry has received any request of that sort.