According to notes attached to the May 12 publication of its first quarter financial results, Thai Airways International reported that since it entered business rehabilitation—a process similar to Chapter 11 bankruptcy that provides the airline protection from creditors—it has sold ten B747-400s and nine A340s, including both the A340-500 and A340-600 models. The airline stated that these aircraft have yet to be delivered to their purchasers.
Moreover, Thai Airways disclosed it is in the process of finalizing purchase and sale contracts for six B777-300s, registered under HS-TKA (MSN 29150), HS-TKB (MSN 29151), HS-TKC (MSN 29211), HS-TKD (MSN 29212), HS-TKE (MSN 29213), and HS-TKF (MSN 29214). All six planes are currently stationed at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport.
Additionally, Thai Airways announced its plan to sell six B777-200s and six A380-800s. The B777-200s, registered as HS-TJA (MSN 27726), HS-TJB (MSN 27727), HS-TJC (MSN 27728), HS-TJD (MSN 27729), HS-TJG (MSN 27732), and HS-TJH (MSN 27733), are all up for sale. All of these, except HS-TJD, are parked at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi. HS-TJD is located at Bangkok Don Mueang.
After contemplation regarding the reactivation of some of their A380-800s, Thai Airways has chosen to sell them instead. The complete set of six A380-800s, including HS-TUA (MSN 87), HS-TUB (MSN 93), HS-TUC (MSN 100), HS-TUD (MSN 122), HS-TUE (MSN 125), and HS-TUF (MSN 131), are on the market. All of these aircraft, except HS-TUE and HS-TUF, are stationed at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi. The remaining two planes are parked at Utapao Airport.
These planes have been inactive since the onset of the pandemic. As Thai Airways continues its business rehabilitation process, it is making a concerted effort to streamline and downsize its fleet. Nevertheless, the airline is bringing some select aircraft back into service. In the first quarter of the year, the airline reactivated one B777-200ER. It also has plans to introduce two new A350-900s in the current quarter—OE-IBP (MSN 351) currently undergoing maintenance at Lourdes/Tarbes, and OE-IBV (MSN 355), also located at Lourdes/Tarbes. Thai Airways plans to use these aircraft on flights to Melbourne Tullamarine, Kunming Changshui, Beijing Capital, Chengdu Tianfu, Guangzhou, and Shanghai Pudong, which are routes that the airline says are experiencing "strong passenger demand growth."
