Thai Airways Selling Boeing 747, Airbus A380 Fleet

I'll take a 2007 A340-500 and a 2003 747-400, thanks

Wonder if any government would be interested to pick them up, either as executive transport, or use in the air force. I'm sure Iran would love to retire their 50+ year old 747(s?). Maybe even North Korea?

'It’s unlikely Thai Airways will get much for these planes right now, given how many planes are on the secondhand market, and how little demand there is.'
It would be interesting to know just how aircraft prices have been affected this year with so much supply of older thirstier planes on the 2nd hand market and so little demand for them. Any figures?

Some of those 747s had an epically bad first class hard product - good riddance. But at the end of the day, the main reason to fly Thai F is the ground services. Hoping they keep that even with just the six A380s. Perhaps there’s a way to have it as an upsell to J passengers.

That will be the end of TG First Class service. I do not expect this class of service after the pandemic. The company has to restructure sensibly and concentrate to increase it yields and profts in order to survive.
The Eco service is one of the best. The Biz service is good. So why not improve these two classes. First class is oftenly filled up from complimentary upgrades of Gold and Platinum holders anyway. TG is not earning much from this class. First lounge service on the ground cost the company more than it is really worth it. TG should follow QR and install a Biz suite with a First class catering, amenities and service.

Thai needs a first class for royal passengers and the local elite's prestige, so I expect it will stay, thankfully. Commercial considerations are not so important.

I agree with Ben Dover. Lots of HiSo Thais that will be unhappy if they get rid of F.

Curious what this means for the BKK-HND route. That was exclusively 747s before the pandemic.

@Ben Dover: I don’t think the royals need First. The King was flying out of ZRH to BKK during the pandemic on a 777 which only had J.

@Andy; Not sure with this point of the royals and it's relation to TG F.

I am Munich based, and for business reasons I was almost kind of commuter on the route MUC-BKK-MUC, (many times with connection to TPE and HKG) . This was mainly during the years 2004-2014 and all the time Thai was operating the flight with the 747-400, while other European destinations were already served by the the more updated part of the TG fleet with 340s and 777s.

It was always a saying that the 747 operation was kept to MUC, because it had First and at same time the special relation of the Thai royal members to the Munich area. They have a property close to Munich at a nice and prestigious lake site. Of course, heard about this only by sayings, but it remembered me when reading the comment of Ben. And also have some assumption that local elite prestige's have some certain demand and influence to TG and the continuous service of the Royal First service which might be in conflict with the real commercial and demand situation for a economic operation of TG.

The past couple of years you've been able to either freely, or for a small fee, sit in the F seats on flights with no F service. They're old and crummy seats on the 747's, but it's at least flat bed and a lot nicer than the business class seats. Food and service tend to be great though.
The regional 777 were shite and often randomly mixed with the long haul fleet on some destinations.
Even the long haul fleet needs a refresh and longer bed space in business, as if you're over 180cm tall, you're not going to be comfortable sleeping.
Not a terrible airline overall and I they don't disappear.

Where were these stored this time??? Both the -500 & -600 looked great in TG's colours.

Six Airbus A340-600s, delivered between 2005 and 2008
Three Airbus A340-500s, delivered between 2005 and 2007

@Marco some planes, including 3 380s, are currently stored at the infamous U-Tapao–Rayong–Pattaya International Airport (UTP). One airplane in Phitsanulok, two in Phuket, and the rest at both airports in Bangkok

I'm confused.

You list the following 340s as being sold:

-Six Airbus A340-600s, delivered between 2005 and 2008
-Three Airbus A340-500s, delivered between 2005 and 2007

But then you say "The A340-600s for sale make up Thai Airways’ entire A340 fleet; they’re available as of the second quarter of 2021."

Did you mean that the total of nine A340s being sold make up the entire A340 fleet?

I'm not trying to correct you, just wondering if I'm missing something...

Thanks Endre. I guess some planes can be in storage for a long time. I'll say it again nothing like the gorgeous A340-600.

@Lucky
“super business class,” as we’ve seen at Malaysia Airlines

This was a political move. The government banned first class travel for staff, so they renamed it, so they could still travel in exactly the same cabin.

However, you could be right in that Thai may do it for the same reason!

Doubt there is much of a market for used 747's. I'd think the Qantas 747ERs would have been the hottest 747s on the market (if there was a market) and if i recall correctly only 1 or 2 of them was purchased. The rest were scrapped/long term stored.

Thai will invest more in the A350 than any other just more economical and comfortable and look newer fleet but sadly no F only J but still good enough we love flying Thai and miss flying the last time was from Chiangmai back to Melbourne on the last day of January 2020 just before the covid hit hope to fly again soon

Worked on the assembly line of one of the Thai A380 in Hamburg, sad to see it being retired.

The other four A380s will leave TG by 2566/2023. The way they and the engines were acquired makes it currently difficult for TG to get rid of them.

My shortest 747 flight (1hr Bangkok - Phuket) was on one of those 747s. A330s will have to do for now.

Like there's any market at all for these aircraft. TG's management is delusional. I believe they're still trying to sell their A340s.

With OMAAT growing rapidly, the economics might work for you to pick up one of these at discounted price.

What a mess of an airline and fleet. Simplification seems long overdue. The 747s will likely head to the scrap heap and the A380s sold for parts, potentially to EK. The future Thai fleet really should be around the A350 (-900 and -1000) for commonality, and the 787-10 for regional flying.

But both A380s ; connect them and turn it into an airport hotel .

With the unpopularity of the current Thai King, I am certain that the public would be happy to see the royals fly Economy !

Who will then provide FC ground services to LX pax in BKK? The lounge service, the ground service and the individual suite rooms for a family are really nice.

@Oliver The current Thai King lives most of the year in Munich/Bavaria. In 2004-2014 he was crown prince and that would have been more than enough to influence Thai Airways aircraft assignment.

This is sad but understood news. I absolutely love flying F on Thai 380s & even the 747s. It is a truly special experience totally different from the Middle East airlines. It just puts a smile on your face. Until the pandemic, I transit regularly from TPA to PBH return connecting through BKK. I tend to go west & catch a Thai air rather than go to JFK for an eastern route. KE is good but frankly a bit too stuffy for me. Looks like F in the air is going to be 777s moving forward. Sad just as when the Concorde was retired.

pour moi ce n'est pas une très bonne idée ,de vendre les A 380 et 747 car c'est les deux seul model qui embarque le plus de passagers en une fois.Il faudra combien de 777 ou A 350 pour remplacer ces gros porteurs.
Parce que après le covid ,il y aura un boom du voyage.