Thai Airways International is finalising the largest ever airline-to-airline transaction for Boeing 747-400s, with plans to purchase seven aircraft from Star Alliance partner United Airlines for around $330 million. Exact pricing terms for the five- and six-year old Pratt & Whitney PW4000-powered aircraft have yet to be finalised, but Thai says it has the "right to negotiate the price down to this level". Thai's chairman Thanong Bidaya says that the deal with the US carrier, which is subject to government approval, would be considerably cheaper than acquiring brand new aircraft. United has 12 of its 44 747-400s in storage and is cutting operations as part of its restructuring under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Thai is in the midst of an ambitious growth programme.
Source: Flight International
