(. Thai operates out of
Bangkok International Airport and is a founding member of the
Star Alliance network.
Thai started as Thai Airways International, a joint venture with ,
1960 .
On
April 1 ,
1977 , the Thai government bought out the remaining 15% of SAS-owned shares.
On
April 1 ,
1988 , the two carriers merged to form the present Thai Airways International.
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In August 2005, Thai Airways International president Kanok Abhiradee was suspended from his managerial duties just before the airline reported a massive loss for its fiscal third quarter to June 30. Following the suspension, the airline appointed board member Somchainuk Engtrakul to oversee Kanok's major responsibilities. The airline expects to name a new president in April 2006.
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As most
Tourist s to the country come from
Europe , Thai has a limited presence in
North America , where its flights are marketed by
Lufthansa .
The arrival of the
A340-500 will initiate a change to the airline's image, including a new livery, and a revised font for the title "THAI".
On
May 1 ,
2005 , the airline began a non-stop Bangkok-New York service (TG790/791) with a new
A340-500 . The New York-bound flight time is 16.5 hours, the fastest direct flight from
Southeast Asia to the East Coast of the USA. It uses a flightpath over the
North Pole .
Non-stop Bangkok-Los Angeles service (TG794/795) started on
December 2 ,
2005 , also using a new
A340-500 . The flight time is 14.5 hours eastbound, the fastest direct flight from Southeast Asia to the West Coast of the USA. This replaces decades old TG774/775 (LAX-KIX-BKK & BKK-KIX-LAX) service using
Boeing 747-400 aircraft and the stop at
Kansai International Airport in
Osaka .
In February 2006, the airline announced it was studying the startup of a new airline, to be called Thai Orchid ( (
Thai : นกแอร์).
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See Also: Thai Airways International destinations
- December 11 , 1998 - a Thai Airways International A310-200 , bound for Surat Thani from Bangkok, was making its third landing attempt during a heavy rain and crashed into a Rice Paddy about 2 miles from Surat Thani airport; 102 of 143 aboard were killed. {Link without Title}
- March 3 , 2001 - a Thai Airways International Boeing 737-400 , bound for Chiang Mai from Bangkok, was destroyed by an explosion and fire that occurred about 35 minutes before the Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and about 150 other passengers were to board. Five members of the cabin crew were aboard, and one was killed. Witnesses said they heard an explosion before flames erupted aboard the aircraft. NTSB investigators reported that the center fuel tank exploded followed by the right tank 18 minutes later. The cause for the explosion was unclear. No traces of explosive were found. The center fuel tank is located near air conditioning packs which generate heat, and were running nonstop prior to the explosion. {Link without Title}
- April 19 , 2005 - a Singapore Airlines Boeing 777-200 stopped approximately 194 meters beyond a painted stop line at Bangkok International Airport , and its left wing-tip was clipped by a Thai Airways International Airbus A330-300 taxiing for take-off. Both aircraft were severely damaged. There were no injuries.
- October 26 , 2005 - a Thai Airways International A300 skidded off the runway in heavy rain on landing at Bangkok International Airport . There were no injuries.
The average age of Thai Airways International fleet was 10.4 years April 2006.
Thai Airways International has ordered 6 of the very large
Airbus A380 aircraft, which will be delivered in 2009/2010 for use on services to Australia and Europe. There has been some speculation about this order.
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Thai Airways International confirmed an order (made in 2004) for 6
Boeing 777 -200ER aircraft to be delivered from
2006 to October
2007 . THAI recently ordered more
747-400 and
A330-300 to replace the soon to be retired
MD-11 and
A300 -600
It has been announced that the 4
MD-11 and 21
A300 -600 aircraft will leave the fleet sometime from 2006-2007. This will most likely coincide with the delivery of the new
777 -200ER,
747-400 and
A330-300 aircraft.
- Nok Air (a low-cost carriers of Thai Airways International)
- Thai Airways (merged into Thai Airways International, 1988 )
