Air Transport

Thai Airways International's board has asked the airline's management to open talks with Airbus to seek delays in the delivery of A330-300 twinjets on firm order.

A spokeswoman says from Bangkok that the Star Alliance carrier's board met yesterday and directed management "to discuss with Airbus if we can defer the A330s".

She says six of the eight A330-300s on firm order are due for delivery this year and the first is scheduled to arrive in April.

The new A330s are intended to replace older aircraft such as Airbus A300-600s and two of these were due to be retired this year, says the spokeswoman.

"The decommissioning plan will be revised after we discuss the deferral of the A330s with Airbus," she says.

Thai also has six Airbus A380s on order for delivery from next year but the spokeswoman says there are currently no plans to request a deferral of these aircraft.

The national carrier has seen its financial position weaken significantly over the past year and it is seeking to cut costs. The spokeswoman says asking Airbus to defer delivery of the A330s on order is part of a wider cost-cutting plan that is being drafted and which will be presented for approval at the next board meeting.

Thai's management team is currently being led by acting president Narongsak Sangapong, following the abrupt resignation of former president Apinan Sumanaseni in November. A search for a new president is currently underway.