Thai Airways has added two Airbus A380s to a fleet of over 40 pre-loved jets which the troubled flag-carrier is seeking to promote.
It is yet one more dramatic fall from grace for the superjumbo, which has been sidelined by the sweeping influence of COVID-19.
Thai grounded all six of its former flagships in March 2019, and now the ultimate two – delivered in late 2013 – have appeared on the airline’s Thai Aircraft Trading website, which offloads used plane in what’s described as “as-is, where-is situation” – which we’re petty certain means no returns and no refunds.
Thai says the itemizing “is part of a market survey to seek out potential consumers for the objects listed in accordance with Thai’s marketing strategy underneath the reorganization continuing.”
“The precise sale will happen underneath the business reorganization plan and would require approvals of related stakeholders and the Chapter Courtroom.”
Thai says the excess superjumbos have flown for a median of 30,000 hours every.
Whereas there isn’t any price ticket connected nevertheless it’s sure to be far lower than Airbus’ unique US$390 million checklist value.
Additionally on the block are all ten of Thai’s Boeing 747s, 18 older Boeing 777-series jets, 9 Airbus A340s, three Boeing 737s, and a solitary Airbus A330.
If you happen to lack the price range or the area (or each) to park a jet in your yard, Thai can also be selling off four flight simulators, together with one for the Boeing 747.
As reported earlier as we speak, Thai Airways can also be in discussions with Boeing over the destiny of three new Boeing 777-300ER jets ordered in pre-pandemic days.
These are Thai’s first Boeing 777-300ER deliveries since 2015 and are mentioned to characteristic first-class suites, in comparison with the earlier 777s which prime out with enterprise-class.
Whereas Thai seems to be hanging onto some A3800s for now, Air France and Lufthansa have scuppered their A380 fleets.
Etihad Airways’ luxe-laden A380s stay grounded and their future unsure: even airline CEO Tony Douglas admits that whereas passengers love the double-decker cruiser, “I feel it’s closely handicapped by two engines too many, and the different plane that may do the job much more effectively, much more sustainably.”
Qantas’ complete superjumbo fleet is being parked until at least the middle of 2023, pending the restoration of demand for air journey within the post-pandemic world, whereas Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker says his airline’s ten superjumbos “will not return for at least a year, maybe never.”
Singapore Airlines confirmed it will retire more than a third of its A380s which have been “deemed surplus to fleet necessities”, though the remaining superjumbos will all be upgraded to characteristic the airline’s newest first-class suites and business-class seats.
Emirates is the only superjumbo buyer to sound an upbeat observe, with airliner president Tim Clark optimistic that the provider’s hundred-strong A380 fleet might return to the skies by 2022.
Clark stays optimistic that 2021 would be the 12 months of the COVID vaccine, with the primary wave of world inoculations in opposition to the pandemic unleashing a pent-up urge for food for the journey.
“I can see demand for journey transferring at tempo,” Clark remarked last month.
“My very own view, and it’s at all times an optimistic view, is by the finish of subsequent calendar 12 months or the primary quarter of 2022 we’ll have all our A380s flying.”
The Gulf colossus takes a supply of three factory-fresh A380s this month, considered one of which can be fitted with its long-awaited “signature Premium Economy product.”
