Thai finally finds buyer for five stored A340-600s

Thai Airways International has sold five Airbus A340-600s for Bt350m ($13m), ending a 13-year search for buyers. According to a story in Thailand’s Nation newspaper, quoting Thai chief technical officer Cherdphan Chotikhun, a contract has been signed for the long-decommissioned jets – though he did not identify the buyer. He adds that the transport ministry still needs to approve the sale, and that the aircraft fetched a price higher than their assessed value. Chotikhun says that the airline’s restructuring amid the coronavirus pandemic laid the groundwork for a successful sale. “In the past, we were bound by regulations of state firms, which gave us almost no chance to sell the decommissioned planes,” he is reported as saying. “As a result, THAI had to shoulder the cost burden of the decommissioned planes for years.” According to Thai’s aircraft trading web site, Thai has successfully sold nine A340s, comprising six -600s and three -500s.<br/>