Air Transport

Thai Airways International is in talks with Airbus to delay delivery of its six Airbus A380s.

Thai is due to receive the first of its Rolls-Royce Trent 900-powered A380s in October next year, but the airline has confirmed comments by executive board chairman Wallop Bhukkanasut that negotiations are under way with Airbus about a delay to 2012.

It says this is because of the global economic situation and that by 2012 "our cashflow problems should be resolved". The carrier confirms that it had earlier been looking to cancel the order altogether or switch to the Airbus A350-1000.

But Thai says it subsequently decided not to switch to the A350 because the delivery dates might be too late.

Thai's move to delay its A380 deliveries comes as it embarks on a financial turnaround plan after recent financial losses. In 2008, Thai suffered a loss of 21.3 billion baht ($588 million).