Bangkok--31 Aug--Thai Airways
Thai Airways International Public Company Limited (THAI) held a pre-launch reception to showcase its first Airbus A380-800 aircraft and new products and services.
Mr. Ampon Kittiampon, THAI Chairman of the Board of Directors, said that THAI chose the Airbus A380-800 aircraft because it is preferred by passengers for its spacious cabin offering. To maximize passenger comfort, THAI is installing only 507 seats in three classes: 12 in Royal First Class, 60 in Royal Silk Class, and 435 in economy for all six A380s scheduled to join its fleet between this year and next. The delivery of the A380 will also compliment THAI’s strategy in offering more modern and higher state of the art products and services at every customer touch point while maintaining the airline’s competitive advantage as one of the world’s premier carriers.
Mr. Chokchai Panyayong, THAI Executive Vice President of Strategy & Business Development and Acting President, said THAI is pleased to showcase its new onboard products and services including new seats, onboard equipment and entertainment system, giving customers consistent and high-quality product offerings across THAI’s fleet. THAI expects that the new aircraft and new products and services will make the passenger travel experience with even more comfortable, more convenient, and with the ease of the latest in modern technology.
THAI will receive six Airbus A380-800 aircraft, with the first to be accepted on 27 September 2012, three aircraft will be accepted during this Winter Program, and two aircraft to be accepted in 2013. THAI’s first Airbus A380-800 will operate flights to and from Bangkok-Hong Kong and Bangkok-Singapore beginning 6 October 2012. Upon acceptance of the second aircraft approximately in mid-December 2012, THAI will operate to and from Bangkok-Frankfurt as well as to and from Bangkok-Hong Kong. In January 2013, THAI will begin operating the Airbus A380-800 to and from Bangkok-Narita and to and from Bangkok-Paris in February 2013.
THAI’s Airbus A380-800 can accommodate 507 passengers in a three-class configuration:
- Royal First Class is fitted with 12 seats that recline 180 degrees, have 83 inch pitch, 26.5 inch seat width, with semi-privacy conventional configuration, have the latest Audio Video On Demand (AVOD) ex2 system with a 23 inch personal entertainment screen that offers 100 movies, 150 television programs, 500 CD albums, and 60 games. Passengers have more personal storage area in Royal First Class, with individual coat storage, in addition to internet connection, Wi-Fi, enables mobile phone use on board, and electronic plug-in. It also features a Royal First Class Bar, spacious lavatory/dressing room, and Royal First Lounge onboard that serves as a multipurpose area.
- Royal Silk Class is equipped with 60 seats that recline 180 degrees, have 74 inch pitch, 20 inch seat width, with staggered seat configuration for easy access, have 15 inch personal entertainment screen with the AVOD ex2 system that offers the same number of audio and video selection as Royal First Class, complete with a Royal Silk Bar. More personal storage area is provided, along with internet connection, Wi-Fi, enables mobile phone use on board, and electronic plug-in.
- Economy Class is configures with 435 seats, with 58 seats in the upper deck area and 377 seats in the lower deck or main passenger cabin area, have 32 inch pitch, 18 inch seat width, have 10.6 inch personal entertainment screen with the AVOD ex2 system that offers the same number of audio and video selection as Royal First Class and Royal Silk Class. There is internet connection, Wi-Fi, mobile phone use on board, and electronic plug-in.
The Airbus A380-800 is designed to facilitate noise-control and be environmentally friendly in accordance with international airport regulations, equipped to transport 40 percent more passengers than other large wide body aircraft, and releases less carbon dioxide and noise. Inflight connectivity enables passengers to use mobile phones on board for a fee charged by the mobile service provider. SMS and MMS messages may be sent and received through GPRS or Wi-Fi connection, while passengers with Wi-Fi enabled electronic equipment may access the internet using Wi-Fi, so that passengers may remain connected when traveling on board flights.
On THAI’s other new aircraft acceptances, THAI will receive seven new Airbus A330-300 aircraft, whereby three aircraft were accepted during the beginning of 2012 and operate on regional flights in Asia, such as Narita, Nagoya, and Hong Kong. The fourth and fifth aircraft will be accepted approximately near the end of 2012, while the sixth and seventh aircraft will be accepted in early 2013. This aircraft type will be used to operate flights on Australian and Asian routes, such as Perth, Osaka, Fukuoka, Shanghai, and Colombo. The color scheme for the interior d?cor of the fourth to seventh Airbus A330-300 will be similar to the Airbus A380-800.
THAI’s Airbus A330-300 can accommodate 299 passengers in a two-class configuration:
- Royal Silk Class is equipped with 36 seats that recline 170 degrees, have 58 inch pitch, 20 inch seat width, have 15 inch personal entertainment screen with the AVOD ex2 system that offers all the same number of audio and video selection as offered on THAI’s Airbus A380-800 aircraft. Inflight connectivity enables passengers to use mobile phones on board for a fee charged by the mobile service provider. Passengers can send and receive SMS messages, have internet connection through GPRS or Wi-Fi, while those with Wi-Fi enabled electronic equipment may access the internet using Wi-Fi
- Economy Class is configured with 263 seats, have 32 inch pitch, 18 inch seat width, have 10.6 personal entertainment screen with the AVOD ex2 system as offered in Royal Silk Class. Inflight connectivity enables passengers to use mobile phones on board for a fee charged by the mobile service provider, which is the same as that offered in Royal Silk Class.
THAI will receive a total 20 Airbus A320-200 aircraft that will be used on THAI Smile flights, whereby three aircraft have already entered the fleet and five aircraft will join the fleet by the end of the Winter Program 2012/2013 (28 October 2012 — 30 March 2013). THAI will accept the fourth aircraft in September 2012, the fifth to tenth aircraft will be accepted in 2013, the eleventh to seventeenth aircraft will be delivered in 2014, and the eighteenth to twentieth aircraft will be delivered in 2015.
THAI’s Airbus A320-200 is a short to medium range aircraft that can accommodate 174 passengers, with a 28-32 inch pitch, and 18 inch seat width. The Airbus A320-200 is a technologically modern aircraft with designed for quality fuel management, with a superior flight control system, and is environmentally friendly, with Wing Fences installed for improved flight quality. The first five rows are designated for ‘Smile Plus’ short-haul business class service, providing extra pitch and enhanced service elements designed to appeal to a higher market segment. The aircraft type is ideally cost-effective for short to medium-haul routes. THAI Smile operates the Airbus A320-200 on roundtrip flights to Macau, Surat Thani, and Krabi.
From now to 2015, THAI will have a total of 33 new Airbus aircraft with new products in its fleet, with products of comparable quality across its fleet.