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Thai Airways is seeking approval from its board of directors to acquire up to 10 new widebody aircraft, aiming to restore capacity lost after retiring older jets. The proposal, which is expected to be submitted on October 23, comes after three previous rejections of similar fleet investment plans.
According to reports from The Nation Thailand, the airline intends to lease between eight and ten widebody aircraft for approximately six years. If approved, these planes would join the fleet around mid-2026. Thai Airways CEO Chai Eamsiri emphasized the urgency of the plan, stating that additional capacity is "absolutely necessary" for maintaining network connectivity and preventing a fleet imbalance.
The airline faces delays in receiving new aircraft it has already ordered—particularly Boeing 787s—and is also dealing with grounded planes due to shortages of parts for Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines. These issues have prompted Thai Airways to seek short-term leasing solutions despite existing long-term orders.
