Karen Walker
Thai Airways says it could make a decision next year to purchase the Boeing 777-200X ultra-long haul aircraft.
Thai's president Tamanoon Wanglee was at Farnborough yesterday to showcase the 777-300 that is on display in the static park and which will be delivered to Thai in October.
Tamanoon says he hopes that by the next Farnborough airshow, there will be a Thai 777-200X in the display. The airline has three -200s in service and six -300s on order.
Tamanoon says that Thai is evaluating both the -200X and the extended range -200ER. As part of an ongoing programme to rationalise and modernise Thai's fleet, and to streamline it to six aircraft types, he wants to replace the airline's Boeing MD-11s.
He admits, however, that a decision will depend on how the Thai ecomony fares over the next few months.
If Thai does go ahead with the -200X it could be a launch customer for a programme that Boeing has struggled to get off the ground for almost two years.
The 8,700nm-range (16,100km) aircraft is being floated in parallel with another long range, stretch 777 programme, the -300X. But both programmes have failed to attract customers so far.
Singapore Airlines and Emirates were regarded as hopefuls, but both airlines turned instead to Airbus and the A340-500.
Other potential launch customers for the -200X and -300X are American Airlines and Delta Air Lines, although neither US carrier is believed to be in a hurry to make a decision.
Source: Flight Daily News
