AerCap Holdings has entered into a leasing agreement with Thai Airways for seventeen aircraft: four Airbus A350-900, three Boeing 787-9, and ten Airbus A321neo. This decision is part of Thai Airways’ short-term fleet development strategy.
Two out of the four A350s have already been delivered, and the remaining two are scheduled to be made available to the operator in the first and second quarters of 2024, respectively. Deliveries of the 787s, on the other hand, are scheduled to begin in the second quarter of 2024 and extend until the fourth quarter of 2025. The A321neo, finally, are expected to commence deliveries in the third quarter of 2025 until the second quarter of 2026.
Related Content: Thai Airways Reports Profits in the First Quarter of 2023 Despite Financial Challenges
Peter Anderson, Chief Commercial Officer of AerCap, stated that the company «is pleased to support Thai Airways in both the modernization of its wide-body and narrow-body fleets as they emerge from a very challenging period.» Anderson emphasized the long-standing relationship between AerCap and Thai Airways. The companies began working together in the 1990s, leasing Boeing 737-400s and Airbus A330-300s.
On the other hand, Chai Eamsiri, CEO of Thai Airways, also added that «this is a testament to the trust and commitment we share with AerCap. The addition of these next-generation aircraft enhances our ability to quickly adapt to market demands. Thus, we strengthen not only our operational capacity but also offer greater comfort to our passengers.»
The Thai Airways fleet consists of 71 aircraft, with 68 pending orders. It currently operates 41 Airbus planes: 20 A320-200s, 3 A330-300s, and 18 A350-900s. On the Boeing side, it has five 777-200ERs and seventeen 777-300ERs, six 787-8s, and two 787-9s. The latter utilize Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines.
