Bangkok--10 May--Thai Airways
on 5 May 2011 at 1930 hours, Thai Airways International Public Company Limited (THAI) and Aeronautical Radio of Thailand Limited (AEROTHAI) jointly lifted off on the “Demonstration THAI ASPIRE Flight” from Bangkok to Auckland, New Zealand on TG491, arriving back in Bangkok at 2115 hours on 8 May 2011 on TG492. The demonstration flight, promoting efficient use of fuel to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, was the first ever roundtrip ASPIRE flight to have taken place.
Piloting the roundtrip ASPIRE Flight was Flying Officer Naruj Komalarajun (5th from left), THAI’s Vice President of Operations Support Department, who also presided over the press conference along with Mr. Aphinun Vannangkura (4th from left), AEROTHAI’s Vice President of Air Traffic Management, just prior to its launch.