Thai Airways Plans to Lease 8 Boeing 787 Aircraft, Boeing Says

Thai Airways International Pcl, the country’s largest carrier, plans to lease eight Boeing Co. 787 Dreamliners from International Lease Finance Co., Boeing said in a statement distributed to media in Bangkok today.

The companies didn’t say when the planes will be delivered.

Boeing also said the production schedule for the 787-9, which will be bigger than the 787-8, is “progressing.” The company expects to begin major assembly of the model this year, with first delivery scheduled for early 2014, according to presentation slides distributed to reporters.

Thai Airways to Start Direct Route Between Phuket and Stockholm

Thai Airways starts direct flights from Stockholm (Arlanda) to Phuket from the 1st of November 2012. The new route is good news to the many Swedes who each year travel to Phuket and those who use Phuket as a stop before the journey continues to the very popular Phi Phi Islands.

From the 1st of November 2012, aircraft from Thai Airways will begin departing every Thursday and Saturday. The time of departure is 20:45 from Arlanda Airport and the flight number of flightTG963. That basically means that there will be two aircraft from Thai Airways taking off from Arlanda every Thursday and Saturday.

Turkish Airlines begins a Freesale Codeshare Agreement with THAI

Turkish Airlines (TK) and Thai Airways International Public Company Limited (THAI) concluded a Free Sale Codeshare Agreement that allows both airlines to market selected flights using their own code and flight numbers on a free sale basis within the scope of the codeshare agreement.

According to Dr Temel Kotil, Turkish Airlines CEO, “Turkish Airlines is pleased to join with Thai Airways International on this code share collaboration, which will expand potential air traffic between Turkey and Thailand.  Code-sharing with Turkish Airlines expands THAI’s network to destinations in Turkey and Europe that THAI does not operate.

The code share cooperation on flights operated by the two carriers also supports business and tourism conducted between Turkey and the Asian and Australian regions.  This agreement successfully feeds traffic from Turkish Airlines into THAI’s route network, especially to and from Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, and Australia.  In addition, Istanbul becomes another gateway into Europe for THAI on Turkish Airlines’ route network.”

Piyasvasti Amranand, Thai Airways International (THAI) president said, “This code share agreement between THAI and Turkish Airlines is a significant step forward to expand our respective market presence extensively into Europe and into Asia.  By code sharing with Turkish Airlines, THAI can reach many other European cities through Istanbul, which is another gateway for THAI into Europe as well as destinations in Turkey.  Both our airlines can look forward to mutual strengthening of potential markets through Turkish Airlines’ extensive route net into Europe and through THAI’s strong network in Asia and Australia.”

Thai Airways to become first Asian airline using biofuel

Thai Airways International (THAI), the national flag carrier, will become the first Asian airline to use biofuel to fly its commercial flights, Thai News Agency (TNA) reported.

THAI President Piyasvasti Amranand confirmed Friday that THAI will launch its maiden biofuel commercial flight in Asia and Southeast Asia, TG104, from Bangkok to Chiang Mai on Dec 22.

Piyasvasti said that the new move is under THAI' Travel Green initiative, which is part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) strategy in accordance with King Bhumibol Adulyadej's vision on renewable or "green" energy

to help ease the global warming problem. According to the THAI president, the national airline will also invite some 100 students and professors to join its first-ever bio-fuel commercial flight.

Revenue from this special flight will go to the development of renewable energy in Thailand.