Thai Airways takes off on an Airbus A380 farewell flight

Amidst a pandemic–induced slump, Thai Airways decided to bid farewell to its Airbus A380 fleet, spelling the end of an era in the skies.

According to a report by Aerotime Hub, the Thai flag carrier is offering its superjumbos to the highest bidder until September 12, marking a conclusion to their service.

Remaining grounded since the early days of the pandemic, these colossal jets have languished at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi International Airport or U-Tapao–Rayong–Pattaya International Airport, awaiting a saviour. With demand surging and travel restrictions easing, hopes briefly flickered for their service return, only to be dashed as Thai Airways opened the bidding.

Listed in an “as-is, where-is” condition, these A380s come with a tantalisingly low deposit price tag of just US$50,000 (approximately 1 million baht). However, potential buyers should brace themselves for a significant investment and effort to revive these dormant giants to the skies.

Despite their relative youth, with the oldest jet, HS-TUA, at just under 11 years old, and their airworthiness confirmed, Thai Airways’ A380 fleet has struggled to find takers. Previous attempts to offload the two youngest A380s as part of restructuring and bankruptcy plans fell flat, raising doubts about the success of this latest endeavour, reported Simple Flying.

As Thai Airways edges closer to emerging from bankruptcy, its fleet transforms, shedding older aircraft like the iconic Boeing 747-400s in favour of newer, more efficient models. Yet, the airline’s ambitious plans for expansion hint at a potential resurgence, with reports of a substantial widebody order on the horizon.

In related news, Thai Airways International Public Company Limited witnessed a significant rebound in its earnings following an increase in air travel demand. The airline reported a net profit of 28.1 billion baht last year, a substantial recovery from the 272-million-baht loss experienced in the previous year.

This is the second-highest annual net income recorded by the company, surpassed only by the 55-billion-baht profit in 2021, primarily attributed to an 81.5 billion baht gain from debt restructuring.