THAI receives Delivery of New Boeing 777-300ER

8 July 2012, Bangkok – Thai Airways International Public Company Limited (THAI) today received its newest aircraft, the Boeing 777-300ER, with new cabin interior design and modern seats fitted with individual entertainment system.

Mr. Chokchai Panyayong, Executive Vice President of Strategy and Business Development Department and Acting President, said that THAI has on order eight Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, for long haul flights across continents.  This Boeing 777-300ER delivery is the first aircraft that is part of the Company’s corporate plan for aircraft acquisition and aircraft acquisition investment plan 2011-2017.  These aircraft will replace the decommissioned aircraft, with the second Boeing 777-300ER aircraft being delivered in October 2012, and six more to be delivered in 2013.

With this first Boeing 777-300ER delivered, THAI will operate one daily flight between Bangkok and Narita (Tokyo); and will operate the Bangkok-Seoul-Los Angeles route and Bangkok-Brussels route when the second aircraft arrives.

THAI’s Boeing 777-300ER can accommodate 348 passengers in a two-class configuration:

- Royal Silk Class is fitted with 42 seats that recline 180 degrees, have 87 inch pitch, 20 inch seat width, where each seat is positioned (staggered seating) for easy access, along with 15 inch personal entertainment screen, and Audio Video On Demand (AVOD) system eX2 that offers 100 movies, 150 documentaries, 500 CD albums and 60 games. 

- Economy Class is configured with 306 comfortable seats that have 32 inch pitch and an 18 inch seat width.  All economy class seats are fitted with 10.6 inch personal entertainment screens and AVOD eX2 system that offers the same number of audio and video selection as Royal Silk Class.

- This aircraft is also fitted with telecommunication equipment for personal mobile phone use while on board (in-coming calls, outgoing calls, SMS, GPRS Data Roaming charges are according to the mobile phone’s service provider rates).

In addition, prior to receiving this new Boeing 777-300ER, THAI retrofitted a number of its other Boeing aircraft in the fleet:

- From April 2011 to March 2012, THAI retrofitted the first six Boeing 747-400 aircraft with new economy class seats and installed individual entertainment screens.

- The second set of six Boeing 747-400s, a 374-seat configuration, have been undergoing an all-class retrofitting and personal entertainment system installation since end of 2011, carried out by THAI’s Technical Department.  With the success of the first in-house aircraft retrofitting having finished in July 2012, the goal of finishing the remaining aircraft can be expected within the second quarter of 2013.

    - Royal First Class – nine seat configuration retrofitted for more private seating, 180 degree recline, 80 inch seat pitch, 21 inch seat width, 23 inch personal entertainment screen

    - Royal Silk Class – 40 seat configuration retrofitted for 170 recline, 60 inch seat pitch, 20 inch seat width, 15.4 inch personal entertainment screen

    - Economy Class – 325 seat configuration retrofitted for 34 inch pitch, 18 inch seat width, 10.6 inch personal entertainment screen

    - This aircraft is also fitted with telecommunication equipment for mobile phone use while on board (in-coming calls, outgoing calls, SMS, GPRS Data Roaming charges are according to the mobile phone’s service provider rates)

- For the eight Boeing 777-200 aircraft, a 309, two-class seating configuration in Royal Silk Class and Economy Class, retrofitting work by THAI Technical Department started since the beginning of 2012.  With the success and completion of the retrofit work on the first aircraft in March 2012, THAI aims to complete the remaining retrofit work within the second quarter of 2013.

    - Royal Silk Class – 30 seat configuration retrofitted with new in-flight entertainment system and 10.4 inch personal screen onto the existing seats (170 degree recline, 60 inch seat pitch, 20 inch seat width)

    - Economy Class – 279 seat configuration retrofitted with new seats having 32 inch seat pitch, 18 inch seat width, new entertainment system and 9 inch screen

Within 2013 THAI will have in its Boeing fleet eight new aircraft with new onboard products and 20 retrofitted aircraft with new seats, onboard equipment and entertainment system, giving customers consistent and high-quality product offerings across THAI’s fleet.

The near future for THAI sees a number of new aircraft delivered. From 2014 to 2015 THAI will take delivery of another six Boeing 777-300ER aircraft and six Boeing 787-8 aircraft.  In 2017 THAI is set to receive two of the Boeing 787-9 aircraft.

THAI expects the new aircraft and new products will make the fleet more modern and reduce the average age of the aircraft, which support a more fuel-efficient operation, produce less carbon emissions, lower maintenance costs, increase customer satisfaction, and become more competitive.