THAI struggles to unload old aircraft

THAI has admitted it is struggling to sell its decommissioned Airbus A340 aircraft as they are unpopular in the used plane market, the national flag carrier's public relations unit says. The airline's statement came after a group of about 100 THAI staff on Sunday called for Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to invoke Section 44 of the interim constitution to probe the procurement of 10 Airbus A340 planes bought by the national flag carrier, which have been grounded and "left to rot". The aircraft acquisition process took place between 2002 and 2003. The group said the use of the aircraft had caused annual losses of 3-5b baht for THAI which is why they had to be grounded. They are parked at Don Mueang and U-Tapao airports. According to THAI's statement, the Airbus A340s were purchased when the cost of jet fuel was low and were used to compete on intercontinental routes. "When the cost of jet fuel became expensive, other carriers with the same aircraft type in their fleet also experienced the same problem as THAI of incurring losses and decommissioned this type," the statement says.<br/>