Thai Airways Grows Boeing 787 Commitment

For the third time in just over a week, Thai Airways has committed to additional Boeing 787s as it looks to continue expanding its fleet.

As part of the latest agreement, the airline has signed long-term leases with Air Lease Corporation for three new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners.

The aircraft are already part of the ALC order book and thus aren’t necessarily new orders but rather new placements and confirmation of the direction these units will head.

ALC says these Boeing 787s will be delivered to Thai Airways in 2025, allowing the airline to expand its long-haul route portfolio before its first Dreamliner arrives from Boeing as part of the new batch.

Comments From Executives

We are delighted to commence this new partnership with ALC, with the addition of three Boeing 787-9s to Thai Airways’ fleet. The incorporation of these aircraft underscores our dedication to fleet modernisation and delivering exceptional comfort and efficiency to our passengers. Thai Airways International is thrilled to further strengthen our relationship with such an industry-leading partner.

Chai Eamsiri, CEO of Thai Airways International.

Revamping The Fleet

Thai Airways has long been attempting to revamp its fleet by introducing next-generation aircraft types. However, that process hasn’t been as easy as imagined; Thai Airways has battled significant turnaround difficulties over the years and looked to navigate a global pandemic.

As part of the pandemic’s effects, the airline formally retired several aircraft types and had removed some aircraft before this. While these jets were primarily described as inefficient, they were still crucial to the airline’s achieving and meeting capacity levels.

Commitments for new aircraft such as the 787 will allow for capacity to increase once again, but also for the retirement of older aircraft. Therefore, the fleet age will dramatically reduce while efficiency will be boosted significantly in turn.

A Major 787 Order At Singapore Airshow

At the 2024 Singapore AIrshow, Boeing finally confirmed a deal with Thai Airways for up to 45 787 Dreamliners, with reported options included in the contract.

The airline selected the 787-9 to modernise its fleet as part of the deal. Following this announcement, several further leasing arrangements were revealed, including the latest ALC contract to boost its fleet.

The Dreamliner will be able to reduce fuel use over previous generation aircraft and also, therefore, reduce emissions by 25%. Additionally, the 787s are touted as the perfect planes to expand across Southeast Asia, where capacity is required, and to more international destinations.