THAI could lease rather than purchase more aircraft
Overall operations at Thai Airways International (THAI) will not be affected by its board’s demand that plans to procure new aircraft be reviewed, THAI president Sumeth Damrongchaitham said on Thursday (September 26).
THAI management will next month submit to the board a proposal to lease three Boeing 777-300ER aircraft to support operations for six years, he said.
If approved, the leasing process would begin immediately. No Cabinet endorsement would be required.
Unless unforeseen obstacles arise, the leasing procedure would likely take four months, with the jets delivered beginning early next year.
The THAI board on Tuesday asked management to review plans to procure 38 more aircraft worth a combined Bt156 billion.
The directors cited a “fast-changing situation” in asking for a fresh plan within the next six months.
