Airbus aircraft handed over to THAI Airways

TOULOUSE, July 31 (TNA) – An Airbus A330-300 handed over to Thai Airways International (THAI) on Thursday at a ceremony in the French city of Toulouse has arrived in Thailand’s Suvarnabhumi Airport on Friday.

Named Sri Anocha by His Majesty King Bhumibol, it is the third Airbus 330-300 delivered to THAI this year and the 1,000th aircraft of this model produced by Airbus Industrie, one of the two biggest manufacturers of jet aircraft worldwide.

Acting THAI president Narongsak Sangapong, Thailand’s national flag carrier, attended the ceremony in Toulouse and the airplane has arrived in Thailand at 10am Friday.

Three more Airbus aircraft will be delivered to THAI later this year, and two more will be delivered early next year.

THAI has purchased all eight aircrafts from Airbus Industrie to join its fleet for international flights to China, Japan, South Korea and the Middle East, destinations for which THAI expects high demand next year when the economy recovers.

Meanwhile, THAI Airways also purchased of six Airbus A380 superjumbo jets with delivery starting in August 2012.

The superjumbo jets will serve several destinations in Europe after its new destination to Oslo in Norway with a good passenger response at an average cabin occupancy of 80 per cent.

Affected by the world economic slowdown and the outbreak of Influenza A(H1N1) in the fourth quarter, the national flag carrier planned to cut costs by Bt19 billion (US$560 million) under its rehabilitation plan. Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation is expected to be Bt30 billion ($880 million) this year with a cabin factor of 75 per cent on average.  (TNA)