Thai Airways’ entire Airbus A380 fleet is currently up for bidding in “as-is, where-is” condition.
SUMMARY
- Thai Airways has put its entire Airbus A380 fleet up for sale in an “as-is, where-is” condition following three years of grounding in Bangkok and Utapao.
- Although its A380s have not completed C-checks since before the pandemic, the jets are still considered airworthy with no permanent grounding directives.
- Thai Airways is focusing on a more streamlined fleet of newer jets, such as the Airbus A350, with plans to expand to 114 aircraft by 2027.
Despite a brief flicker of hope that Thai Airways‘ quadjet fleet would return to service amid a surge in demand late last year, its days of Airbus A380 ownership appear to be at an end. As reported by Aerotime Hub, the Thai flag carrier has opened bidding on its superjumbos until September 12.
Sale away
Listed in an “as-is, where-is” condition, Thai Airways’ A380s are up for grabs – for just the low deposit price of $50,000. With the oldest jet, HS-TUA, coming in at just under 11 years old, Thai Airways’ A380 fleet is relatively young – and under-utilized, averaging around 31,000 flight hours according to ch-aviation.
All six jets have remained grounded at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi International Airport (BKK) or U-Tapao–Rayong–Pattaya International Airport (UTP) since the early days of the pandemic, leaving any interested air operator a significant amount of work and investment to return the giants to the skies. Any purchaser would be required to ferry the aircraft elsewhere or dismantle it on-site, limiting options.
Despite none of the aircraft completing C-checks since before the pandemic, Thai Airways’ A380 is noted to remain airworthy, with no Airworthiness Directives or Service Bulletins permanently grounding the aircraft.
According to the carrier’s invitation, it retains the right to reject bids from parties sanctioned by the United States and Thailand or any general “unfit suitor.”
The carrier previously attempted to shirk off its two youngest A380s, HS-TUE and HS-TUF, as part of its restructuring and bankruptcy plans in 2020 and 2021. The initial survey of interest failed to attract a buyer within the two-week purchase period, leaving questions as to whether Thai Airways can sell all six aircraft. The latest sale appears to fall under the same banner as the previous, with Thai Airways’ invitation letter outlining,
“The Bidder is well aware that this sale is conducted under the Bankruptcy Court’s order. The sale of the Aircraft contemplated by shall be subject to final approval of THAI’s Plan Administrator, and only upon receipt of such approval shall the sale be considered final and contemplated.”
Future fleets
Thai Airways A380 aren’t the only widebodies facing the chop. Although initially anticipating a 2024 retirement date, the carrier’s iconic Boeing 747-400s met a similar fate to its European counterpart, being listed for sale in 2021. Thai Airways shifted ten jumbo jets alongside one older Classic Boeing 737-400, leaving just seven remaining in storage at Bangkok and Utapao.
Bouncing back from bankruptcy, the airline is expected to quit protection next year, reemerging as a more streamlined and efficient carrier with a focus on Boeing and Airbus’ newer jets, shaving its fleet down to less than half of its pre-pandemic peak as of August 2023.
However, the airline is already gearing up to surpass that before 2027, utilizing a potential 30-strong widebody order and further leases to expand to around 114 aircraft over the next four years. An order is yet to materialize following reports in June, but as it gradually completes its fleet merger with Thai Smile, an update may be on the horizon.
Source https://simpleflying.com/thai-airways-selling-6-airbus-a380s/
