Thai Airways International's new regional carrier will operate up to 11 Airbus A320s on its domestic and short-haul services.
The airline, which has been tentatively named Thai Wings, aims to start operations by the end of the second quarter of 2012 with four aircraft. That will be gradually ramped up to 11 aircraft, said an airlines spokeswoman.
These aircraft are part of a larger order Thai Airways announced on 14 June. The Star Alliance carrier said that it would lease six A320s for delivery between 2012 and 2013, and buy five A320s for delivery between 2014 and 2015.
Thai Wings' aircraft will be configured to offer both business and economy class seats, said Raj Tanta-nanta, Thai Airways' vice-president for investor relations.
Brunei, Medan, Penang, Danang and Amritsar are possible international destinations, he added. Details on the domestic network have not been firmed up.
These will be decided in the coming months as Thai Airways' board is still reviewing the business plan for Thai Wings, said the spokeswoman. The airline's branding and marketing strategy has not been fixed as well, she added.
Source: Air Transport Intelligence news
