Thai Airways, Thailand's national carrier, has made the largest order in its history for the purchase of new Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft. This will allow the airline to significantly renew and expand its fleet, open new flight destinations and meet the growing demand for air travel in the Asia-Pacific region.
Thai Airways' development prospects
The agreement with US aircraft manufacturing giant Boeing to purchase 45 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft was signed during the Singapore Airshow. Representatives of the air carrier said that this is only the beginning - in the coming years it is planned to purchase up to 80 more airplanes of this model. The possibility of purchasing long-haul Boeing 777Xs is also being considered.
Strategic investments will allow Thai Airways to increase its fleet to 90 aircraft by 2025. This is crucial to gradually replace outdated machines and expiring leases. Currently, the carrier's fleet consists of 70 aircraft.
Advantages of Boeing 787 Dreamliner airplanes
The choice in favor of Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft is dictated by their high efficiency and operational flexibility. These modern airplanes are equipped with advanced GEnx engines, have increased fuel efficiency and reduced emissions. This is fully in line with the airline's environmental goals to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.
In addition, the contract provides for flexible order conversion between different modifications of the 787 family. This will enable Thai Airways to respond quickly to changes in the passenger airline market.
Recovery of the airline after the pandemic
It is worth noting that this major agreement with Boeing falls during Thai Airways' recovery period after the severe crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The carrier returned to profitable operations last year after a series of unprofitable quarters.
The strong recovery of the tourism industry in Thailand is fueling demand for air transportation. Therefore, the fleet renewal and expansion is extremely timely and will allow the national carrier to strengthen its position in the Southeast Asian market.
This major agreement with Boeing marks a new milestone in the history of Thai Airways. It will allow the airline to significantly strengthen its fleet with modern fuel-efficient aircraft, expand its route network and meet the growing demand for air transportation in the Asia-Pacific region.
Author of the article: Ekaterina Antonova
