THAI expects Cabinet nod next month for purchase of new aircraft

Sumeth Damrongchaitham, president of THAI, said he expects the Cabinet to approve the airline’s proposal to purchase new aircraft by next month. He also revealed that the carrier wants to buy additional aircraft in the next 5 years, with the long-term aim to bring the airline’s fleet numbers up from 100 to 125. “It is necessary to increase the number of aircraft if we want to keep up with the growing market,” he said Monday, adding that the commercial aviation market was growing by 3% yearly. “If we fail to boost our fleet, we stand to lose 10% of the market share in the next 3 to 5 years,” he cautioned. The proposal to acquire new aircraft, however, will not necessarily boost the airline’s fleet, he said, because old craft will need to be replaced. <br/>