A340-500s
will permit Non-stop Service to the United States
APRIL 06, 2005
Thai Airways International has taken delivery of
the first of four A340-500s, with the aircraft
also being the first in the entire fleet to be
painted in the airline’s striking new
livery. This event marks the start of a major
Airbus widebody fleet expansion programme, which
will also see six A340-600s entering service
between 2005-2008 and six A380-800s entering
service between 2008-2009.
The A340-500s will bring ‘Smooth as Silk’
levels of service to a completely new network of
ultra long-haul services from Bangkok to North
America, whilst the A340-600s will replace older
aircraft currently operated to secondary cities
in Europe. Thai Airways International’s
A380s are destined to operate on major trunk
routes from Bangkok’s new Suvarnabhumi
airport to major destinations in Europe.
All four A340-500s and six A340-600s in the Thai
Airways International fleet will be powered by
Rolls-Royce Trent 500 engines, which burn up to
20 per cent less fuel than older generation
engines, whilst providing outstanding range and
payload performance.
Thai Airways International currently operates a
fleet of 21 A300-600s and 12 A330-300s on its
regional network across Asia-Pacific.
“The A340-500 ultra long haul aircraft will
open up a completely new market for THAI. For the
first time, we will be able to offer direct
non-stop services between Thailand and the USA
and our A340-500 will have a unique configuration
giving passengers extra space and comfort on
their long flights” said Kanok Abhiradee,
President of Thai Airways International.
“The relationship between Thai Airways
International and Airbus stretches back to the
first A300 order in 1977 and I am naturally
delighted to see the airline take delivery of our
latest generation widebody A340-500 as the first
step in its long haul Airbus fleet expansion.”
said Noel Forgeard, Airbus President and Chief
Executive Officer. “With Thailand’s
strong domestic economy and booming tourism &
trade, I am particularly confident of a bright
future for Thai Airways International’s new
Airbus fleet operating from the all new
Suvarnabhumi hub airport.”
Thai Airways International’s selection of
the A340-500/-600 further reinforces the success
of the A330/A340 Family as the preferred choice
of airlines worldwide in the medium to long-range
segment, with almost 900 total orders from 66
customers. The A330/A340 Family has been
especially successful in Asia-Pacific, with 180
aircraft currently in service with 17 airlines,
including almost every major international
carrier in the region.
A leading aircraft manufacturer with the most
modern and comprehensive product line on the
market, Airbus is a global company with design
and manufacturing facilities in France, Germany,
the UK, and Spain as well as subsidiaries in the
U.S., China and Japan. Headquartered in Toulouse,
France, Airbus is an EADS joint Company with BAE
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