Thai Airways considering return of the A380
The increase in passenger demand is prompting Thai Airways to investigate the possibility to re-introduce the Airbus A380 in the fleet. Although a final decision hasn't been made, the return would be for three to four years and only three or four aircraft, with the remaining aircraft act as spare.
Thai Airways has operated a fleet of six A380s, which have been phased-out during the Corona-pandemic. Since then, the airline has tried, unsuccessfully, to sell the two aircraft it owned. Currently, the status of the aircraft is:
- HS-TUA (087), delivered on 28 September 2012 and parked at Bangkok-Suvarnabhumi since 26 March 2020.
- HS-TUB (093), delivered on 29 November 2012 and parked at Bangkok-Suvarnabhumi since 1 April 2020.
- HS-TUC (100), delivered on 21 December 2012 and parked at Bangkok-Suvarnabhumi since 2 April 2020.
- HS-TUD (122), delivered on 22 March 2013 and parked at Bangkok-Suvarnabhumi since 31 March 2020.
- HS-TUE (125), delivered on 29 October 2013 and parked at U-Tapao since 14 April 2020
- HS-TUF (131), delivered on 29 November 2013 and parked at U-Tapao since 14 April 2020
Today, Thai Airways' fleet consists of three Airbus A330-300s, twelve A350-900s, six Boeing B777-200ERs, seventeen B777-300ERs, six B787-8s, and two B787-9s.
Photo by Airbus.