FLEET ORDER - Thai Airways orders forty-five B787-9s

Thai Airways International (TG, Bangkok Suvarnabhumi) has confirmed to ch-aviation an order for forty-five B787-9s along with an undisclosed number of options. The firm order was first flagged by Reuters, who cited a December 2023 addition to Boeing's orderbook from an undisclosed customer

"This order is part of Thai's long-term aircraft acquisition plan under ten-year time frame in 2024-2033," a Thai Airways spokesperson told ch-aviation.

In November 2023, ch-aviation reported that Thai was looking to buy around forty B787s but ultimately was looking to source around 90 new aircraft, mostly widebodies, and would rely on a mix of firm orders, options, and purchase rights.

The new B787-9s will use General Electric engines. A long-running dispute with Rolls-Royce over its engine and maintenance pricing is reportedly one reason why Thai chose the Boeing aircraft over the competing A350-type. Operators can choose General Electric or Rolls-Royce engines on the B787s, while the A350 only comes with the Roll-Royce option.

Thai is working through a court-supervised business rehabilitation process that has resulted in a smaller, less complex fleet. However, like many other carriers, the post-pandemic rebound in demand has caught the airline on the hop, and Thai is now experiencing capacity shortfalls. In the short term, Thai is relying on leased aircraft to cover this.

Thai is already operating the B787-type, with two B787-9s and six B787-8s in its fleet. The airline also flies seventeen B777-300ERs, five B777-200ERs, seventeen A350-900s, three A330-300s, and twenty A320-200s.

CH Aviation