Why THAI’s new aircraft acquisitions are so important

Opinion: BANGKOK, Thailand – Many local carriers are regaining momentum, as they experience surging demand.

Opinion: BANGKOK, Thailand – Many local carriers are regaining momentum, as they experience surging demand. Recent fleet re-alignments and route adjustments are being converted into financial improvement. This is leading to renewed optimism about fleet and network growth, both for major carrier Thai Airways and smaller players such as Thai AirAsia and Nok.

Back in January there were talks of the possibility of Thailandโ€™s national carrier, Thai Airways International (THAI), going bankrupt, however, more recently, there is renewed optimism, and it looks as though the national carrier may have turned the corner.


I recently traveled BKK-LON-BKK on THAI’s new A380. I traveled business class at my own expense; it was a family trip, and I spent the summer at home in the UK. From a comfort and service point of view, it was very evident that THAI is back, and they well deserve their recent Skytrax Award 2016 as the World’s Most Improved Airline.

The aircraft, service, and facilities were world class. I was proud again of Thailand’s national airline. It is so important to have a modern fleet; no one knows that better than other ASIAN airlines and the Middle Eastern carriers who have been chipping away at THAI’s market share for years.



The long loss-making airline, under a restructuring program and helped by lower fuel prices and an increase in tourism, this year aims at achieving an operating profit of 12 billion baht ($332 million) and a net profit of two billion baht ($55 million). The airlineโ€™s revenue is projected to surge to 194 billion baht ($5.34 billion), up 7 percent from 2015.

aj2 | eTurboNews | eTN

Thai Airways President Mr. Charamporn Jotikasthira

This would be a big leap for Thai Airways Chief, Charamporn Jotikasthira, former head of the Stock Exchange of Thailand, who was tasked to initiate and oversee the carrierโ€™s turnaround by the Thai government in 2014. He started changing the airlineโ€™s management structure, reduced its workforce โ€“ particularly its overstaffed administration โ€“ and expenses, cut non-performing routes, and partially sold assets including unnecessary aircraft. He also improved the airlineโ€™s sales strategy.

In detail, Thai Airways trimmed its fleet to 95 aircraft from 102, and cut 1,277 jobs or 5 percent of its staff under an early retirement program. The company also sold its headquarters building in Bangkok and cut down on generous costly perks such as lifetime free first-class travel for directors and their families, including more than 100 former executives and board members.

In 2014, Thai Airways posted net losses of 15.6 billion baht ($427 million), the worst financial performance of any ASEAN state carrier in that year. This was followed by losses of 14 billion baht ($383 million) in 2015, and there was pressure for Jotikasthira to step down. However, in the fourth quarter of last year, THAI made its first net profit (about 4 billion baht, $110 million) in 4 years, indicating that the restructuring has become effective.

In the first quarter of 2016, revenue of the carrier was 48.8 billion baht ($1.35 billion), missing its target by just one percent, whereas spending was cut by 13 percent or about 1 billion baht ($28 million), it was announced on April 20.

To bring it on par with its main rival carriers, THAI is also seeking to raise its seat-occupancy rate to 80 percent from 75 percent in 2015 and 69 percent in 2014. In addition, it plans to raise the ratio of air tickets sold online from 16 percent to an industry average of between 30 and 40 percent

Some of these initiatives are not new. Back in 2009, the then THAI President, Piyasvasti Amranand, who was appointed in June of that year, initiated closer cooperation with Star Alliance carriers and THAI’s low-cost carrier, Nok Air. He also transferred more of its Boeing 737-400s aircraft and domestic routes to Nok.

In order to reduce the carrier’s 160 billion baht ($4.4 billion) debt, Piyasvasti leased more aircraft – rather than relying on aircraft purchases – and introduced a new fleet plan to be implemented in 2010. And also in 2010, he secured 23 billion baht ($637m) of funding from 4 banks: the Government Savings Bank, Bangkok Bank, Kasikorn Bank, and Siam Commercial Bank.

This year, the current Thai Military Government, has set tough restructuring targets not just for THAI, but a number of other state enterprises.

And it appears to be working. Jotikasthira reported in the first quarter of 2016, THAI’s seat occupancy was already at 77.9 percent. Also 21.2 million passengers used the airline in 2015, up 11 percent from 2014.

aj3 | eTurboNews | eTN

Bringing home the new A350

Fuel surcharges, however, continue to rankle customers, even though oil prices have fallen sharply. In 2015, average jet fuel prices were down by $66 per barrel from the 2014 level. However, few premium airlines were able to cut airfares, due to high fuel-hedging ratios.

According to Thailand’s NATION newspaper, between April and September 2015, Singapore Airlines hedged 57 percent of its fuel requirements, at a weighted average of $106 per barrel. When jet fuel prices during the period dropped by 41.1 percent from a year earlier, it should have locked in over 1 billion Singapore dollars (25.5 billion baht) in cost savings. In reality, hedging eroded those savings by nearly half.

The situation could be better this year. According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), a grouping of over 200 airlines, the average price of jet fuel is expected to fall further to $41.20 per barrel in 2016, offering a chance for airlines to save $104.6 billion in fuel expenditure.

There is no information on the hedging ratio at THAI, but it is believed to be high. Hedging became a norm when oil prices hit new highs after the global financial crisis. But most airlines are under pressure to cut airfares and other costs anyway to stay competitive.

aj4 | eTurboNews | eTN

Greater reliance on leasing for new aircraft acquisitions

Mr. Charamporn Jotikasthira, THAI President, also recently announced that the company has ordered 12 Airbus A350 XWB aircraft (Extra Wide Body), which will greatly modernize the fleet and maintain the airline’s quality standards and provide passengers with more convenience.

The first 2 aircraft, each with a price list of US$355.7 million, after an initial period flying on regional services between Bangkok and Chiang Mai, the aircraft will be deployed on long-haul flights, starting in September 2016.

aj5 | eTurboNews | eTN

New aircraft take their place in the THAI fleet

Currently, THAI has 23 Airbus aircraft in its fleet. The new Airbus A350 is among 14 planes purchased by THAI amid plans to offer new routes to Russia, China, and several countries in Europe. Of the 14 aircraft, 12 are Airbus A350 XWB and 2 are Boeing 787.

Melbourne will be the first city to welcome Thai Airways International’s brand new Airbus A350 XWB aircraft and Sydney next year.

Thai Airways will operate a daily Melbourne-Bangkok service aboard the Airbus A350 XWB, replacing one of the Boeing 777-200s the airline currently flies on the route. This is the precursor to a twice-daily A350 XWB Melbourne-Bangkok service when the airline takes delivery of its second A350 later in September. All 12 brand new A350 will be in service within 2 years.

The A350 XWB is branded the world’s most advanced twin-aisle aircraft, Airbus’ response to the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Along with the A380, they are a vital piece of the jig-saw in the future to bring back THAI to the pinnacle it once enjoyed for so many years.

THAI’s strategies to bring passengers back include an upgraded first and business class service, new routes such as a direct Frankfurt-Phuket service, a resumption of the service to Moscow, and the revival of flights to Tehran.

aj6 | eTurboNews | eTN

THAI doesn’t under estimate the importance of it’s new fleet

Another issue that THAI must address is air safety. In March last year, Thai airlines were placed under โ€œspecial measuresโ€ by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) prompting Japan and South Korea to block new flights from Thai-registered airlines.

This forced airlines, including budget carriers Thai AirAsia X, NokScoot, and Asia Atlantic Airline, to cancel extra flights that they had been planning. THAI was also affected.

The audit revealed some safety concerns, primarily relating to air operator certification procedures. Thailand provided the ICAO with the details of its corrective actions and mitigation measures and the ICAO is working with Thai authorities.

A spokesman for the European Aviation Safety Agency said, “We inspected in October last year THAI and those airlines in Thailand which applied for a Third Country Operators (TCO) authorization – authorization that any non-European Union airline willing to fly in and out of the EU must get and they were OK.”

aj7 | eTurboNews | eTN

The author, Andrew J. Wood, is a professional hotelier, Skalleague, travel writer, and director of WDA Co. Ltd (Tours/Travel/MICE). He has over 35 years of hospitality and travel experience, and is a graduate of Napier University, Edinburgh (Hospitality Studies).

About the author

Avatar of Linda Hohnholz

Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

Share to...