http://www.bangkokpost.com/business/aviation/197945/up-to-77-boeing-jets-may-be-in-thai-cart
Up to 77 Boeing jets may be in THAI cart
Splurge is for fleet renewal
Published: 24/09/2010 at 12:00 AM
Newspaper section: Business
Thai Airways International (THAI) is embarking on a multi-billion-dollar shopping spree that may include up to 77 new Boeing aircraft, mostly wide-body types, in a major fleet renewal in the flag carrier's 50-year history.
Christopher Flint, Boeing’s senior sales director for Asia Pacific, poses with a model of the B747-8 Intercontinental in the THAI livery that was presented this week to the flag carrier.
Seattle-based Boeing Commercial Airplanes has proposed to THAI a comprehensive range of jets, including two newly developed B787 "Dreamliners" and B747-8 jumbo jets.
The US planemaker is in talks with the majority state-owned airline for the jets, pitching against its European rival Airbus, which focuses its sales drive on up to 30 A350XWB jets and six additional A380 superjumbos.
The offers by the world's two largest plane producers came as THAI is finalising the longer-term plan for major fleet rejuvenation that will begin in 2015, essentially to replace ageing aircraft to drive down its average fleet age from 11.5 years currently to 7.5 years by 2026.
THAI management is due to conclude the plan toward the end of this year.
THAI president Piyasvasti Amranand, who is completing his first year in office next month, is eager to put the plane acquisition plan in place before any political interference sets in, according to industry sources.
Historically, THAI's aircraft acquisitions were marked by political intervention and favouritism among certain suppliers, leaving THAI with diverse types of not only airframes and engines but also cabin interiors _ a nightmare that other well-run carriers will want to avoid at all costs.
A draft plan presented to THAI's board earlier this year shows that by 2026, the airline expects to have a fleet of 102 aircraft, compared to 88 currently.
According to Christopher Flint, Boeing's senior sales director for Asia Pacific, the company has offered a wide range of aircraft, ranging from the new B747 jumbo to the single-aisle B737 "Next Generation" aircraft.
Though the bulk of aircraft Boeing offered are passenger carriers, there are also dedicated brand-new freighters, as well as the conversion of THAI's B747 passenger jets to cargo haulage that will meet the airline's growing freight business.
The largest number of Boeing aircraft type that the company has proposed to the Thai carrier consist of the mid-sized, wide-body, twin-engine jet B787-30.
The other types of aircraft offered by Boeing are 18 of B777-300ER, the twin-engine aircraft that can fly 360 to 450 passengers non-stop over a distance of 14,500 km, and the so-called renewed B747, nicknamed Queen of the Skies which took to the air in 1970, with 10 for the passenger version (747-8 Intercontinental) and two for all-cargo jets (747-8F).
In an interview in Bangkok, Mr Flint said he believed Boeing had an edge over Airbus in respect to earlier availability of aircraft to THAI, especially the Dreamliners and the B747-8s.
He said the first Dreamliners, the aircraft high on THAI's shopping list, can be delivered to THAI as soon as 2013 or 2014, years ahead of the A350XWB, Airbus's competing jet, which also has high carbon composite content, advanced technology and fuel efficiency.
The A350XWB, the 900 version, will debut in 2013 with the first aircraft going to Qatar Airways, to be followed by the 270-seat A350-800 in 2014. An even-larger variant with 350 seats, the A350-1000, is scheduled to enter service in late 2015.
The Dreamliners can be available to THAI, 3-4 units each year starting in 2013-2014, by aircraft leasing firms which had advanced bookings for the long-awaited jetliner.
Last month, Jean-Jacques Boissin, Airbus's Southeast Asia sales director, told the Bangkok Post that the earliest that Airbus could deliver the first A350 to THAI is 2017 due to a substantial backlog of more than 530 orders.
Ralph Boyce, the former US ambassador to Thailand and now serving as president of Boeing for Southeast Asia, said the contest against Airbus to land the massive aircraft contract with THAI would be fierce.
He said Boeing's chance was 50:50 because Airbus was the only other competitor. "That's better than having a one-tenth (opportunity)," he quipped.
Mr Flint said Boeing would assist THAI in financial issues related to the acquisition of its aircraft by means of leasing, through firms such as GE Capital and the Bank of China-owned BOC Aviation, and/or outright purchasing.
"We can offer help in finding advance payment or securing an US Exim bank guarantee, among others," he said.
Up to 77 Boeing jets may be in THAI cart
Splurge is for fleet renewal
Published: 24/09/2010 at 12:00 AM
Newspaper section: Business
Thai Airways International (THAI) is embarking on a multi-billion-dollar shopping spree that may include up to 77 new Boeing aircraft, mostly wide-body types, in a major fleet renewal in the flag carrier's 50-year history.
Christopher Flint, Boeing’s senior sales director for Asia Pacific, poses with a model of the B747-8 Intercontinental in the THAI livery that was presented this week to the flag carrier.
Seattle-based Boeing Commercial Airplanes has proposed to THAI a comprehensive range of jets, including two newly developed B787 "Dreamliners" and B747-8 jumbo jets.
The US planemaker is in talks with the majority state-owned airline for the jets, pitching against its European rival Airbus, which focuses its sales drive on up to 30 A350XWB jets and six additional A380 superjumbos.
The offers by the world's two largest plane producers came as THAI is finalising the longer-term plan for major fleet rejuvenation that will begin in 2015, essentially to replace ageing aircraft to drive down its average fleet age from 11.5 years currently to 7.5 years by 2026.
THAI management is due to conclude the plan toward the end of this year.
THAI president Piyasvasti Amranand, who is completing his first year in office next month, is eager to put the plane acquisition plan in place before any political interference sets in, according to industry sources.
Historically, THAI's aircraft acquisitions were marked by political intervention and favouritism among certain suppliers, leaving THAI with diverse types of not only airframes and engines but also cabin interiors _ a nightmare that other well-run carriers will want to avoid at all costs.
A draft plan presented to THAI's board earlier this year shows that by 2026, the airline expects to have a fleet of 102 aircraft, compared to 88 currently.
According to Christopher Flint, Boeing's senior sales director for Asia Pacific, the company has offered a wide range of aircraft, ranging from the new B747 jumbo to the single-aisle B737 "Next Generation" aircraft.
Though the bulk of aircraft Boeing offered are passenger carriers, there are also dedicated brand-new freighters, as well as the conversion of THAI's B747 passenger jets to cargo haulage that will meet the airline's growing freight business.
The largest number of Boeing aircraft type that the company has proposed to the Thai carrier consist of the mid-sized, wide-body, twin-engine jet B787-30.
The other types of aircraft offered by Boeing are 18 of B777-300ER, the twin-engine aircraft that can fly 360 to 450 passengers non-stop over a distance of 14,500 km, and the so-called renewed B747, nicknamed Queen of the Skies which took to the air in 1970, with 10 for the passenger version (747-8 Intercontinental) and two for all-cargo jets (747-8F).
In an interview in Bangkok, Mr Flint said he believed Boeing had an edge over Airbus in respect to earlier availability of aircraft to THAI, especially the Dreamliners and the B747-8s.
He said the first Dreamliners, the aircraft high on THAI's shopping list, can be delivered to THAI as soon as 2013 or 2014, years ahead of the A350XWB, Airbus's competing jet, which also has high carbon composite content, advanced technology and fuel efficiency.
The A350XWB, the 900 version, will debut in 2013 with the first aircraft going to Qatar Airways, to be followed by the 270-seat A350-800 in 2014. An even-larger variant with 350 seats, the A350-1000, is scheduled to enter service in late 2015.
The Dreamliners can be available to THAI, 3-4 units each year starting in 2013-2014, by aircraft leasing firms which had advanced bookings for the long-awaited jetliner.
Last month, Jean-Jacques Boissin, Airbus's Southeast Asia sales director, told the Bangkok Post that the earliest that Airbus could deliver the first A350 to THAI is 2017 due to a substantial backlog of more than 530 orders.
Ralph Boyce, the former US ambassador to Thailand and now serving as president of Boeing for Southeast Asia, said the contest against Airbus to land the massive aircraft contract with THAI would be fierce.
He said Boeing's chance was 50:50 because Airbus was the only other competitor. "That's better than having a one-tenth (opportunity)," he quipped.
Mr Flint said Boeing would assist THAI in financial issues related to the acquisition of its aircraft by means of leasing, through firms such as GE Capital and the Bank of China-owned BOC Aviation, and/or outright purchasing.
"We can offer help in finding advance payment or securing an US Exim bank guarantee, among others," he said.
