AA737-823 From United States of America, joined Mar 2000, 5340 posts, RR: 11 Reply 1, posted (3 years 9 months 3 weeks 4 days 15 hours ago) and read 5921 times:
What!?!? In this horrible global recession, with carriers either shutting down their dedicated freighter fleets (DL/NW) or parking 74F's in Arizona (SQ, CX, et al), why would Thai suddenly think it's a good idea to take these burdensome airplanes!!?
They could have bought twenty 747-400F's (albeit not -ER's) out of the desert!
NA From Germany, joined Dec 1999, 9613 posts, RR: 10 Reply 2, posted (3 years 9 months 3 weeks 4 days 15 hours ago) and read 5884 times:
Wow. Good news. Better than having those two great aircraft riding out the crisis in the desert.
Quoting AA737-823 (Reply 1): They could have bought twenty 747-400F's (albeit not -ER's) out of the desert!
All parked 744Fs except the two now snapped up by Thai are not up for sale, they are parked temporarily by their owners. CI for instance has returned one of their two or three parked 744Fs to servive. Also CX has alraedy recalled one 744BCF.
LAXintl From United States of America, joined May 2000, 22030 posts, RR: 51 Reply 4, posted (3 years 9 months 3 weeks 4 days 14 hours ago) and read 5574 times:
Thai Airways announced their intention to get some 744F several months ago, and has been on the market shopping around including possible ACMI ops.
Here is a story from a month back
Quote: Thai Cargo rebuilds freighter fleet
Speaking to Payload Asia on the sidelines of the Federation of Asia Pacific Air-cargo Association’s (FAPAA) 36th Executive Council Meeting and AGM in Bangkok last month, Thai Cargo’s managing director Cargo & Mail Commercial Department, Pruet Boobphakam said the carrier had signed leases for two B747-400ELR freighters which will be in operation before the end of the year.
These two freighters are only a stepping stone however, as Boobphakam said they will be replaced by two leased B777-200 freighters with the first coming online in February with a second in March or April. Another two B777Fs will join the fleet from later in the year, he added.
Three initial routes are being eyed by Thai, including: Bangkok-New Delhi- Europe; Bangkok-Shanghai-US; and Bangkok-Jakarta-Australia.
From what I gather, part of the timing is Thailand's governments long standing wish to have better control of export airfreight, which has been very reliant on foreign carriers which has been made worse as others have reduced capacity this year.
From the desert to the sea, to all of Southern California
CFBFrame From United States of America, joined May 2009, 531 posts, RR: 3 Reply 5, posted (3 years 9 months 3 weeks 3 days 19 hours ago) and read 3469 times:
So are they taking the 2 China Southern 777F parked in the desert as well?
For some of the more knowledgeable leasing folks, why would Boeing grant a short term lease on a new a/c? Markets always turnaround, and making a decision that might impact the ability to place the a/c long term seems very short sighted. The planes have been sitting for this long, why not go for another 6-12 months?
NQYGuy From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 6, posted (3 years 9 months 3 weeks 3 days 18 hours ago) and read 3317 times:
Lets also remind ourselves that the recession won't be around forever. Likely, someone at TG has gotten these aircraft at a good rate- therefore they'll pay for themselves quickly when the markets pick up.
Stitch From United States of America, joined Jul 2005, 26700 posts, RR: 83 Reply 7, posted (3 years 9 months 3 weeks 3 days 18 hours ago) and read 3286 times:
Quoting CFBFrame (Reply 5): For some of the more knowledgeable leasing folks, why would Boeing grant a short term lease on a new a/c?
Does Boeing actually own these planes? I would expect it's the creditors of Load Air who are holding the paper and paying Boeing to let (at least one, I believe) stay at PAE. And since they're not making any money from the plane sitting parked, if TG wants to lease them, more power to them.
Also, any future lessor/owner is not likely going to want to take immediate delivery (as in days/weeks), so whomever is leasing the planes to TG can continue to talk to other operators about a later-term lease when TG's comes up (assuming TG doesn't extend the lease).
MSPNWA From United States of America, joined Apr 2009, 1569 posts, RR: 4 Reply 8, posted (3 years 9 months 3 weeks 3 days 18 hours ago) and read 3085 times:
More 747s in TG colors is fine with me!
But on the business side, even though the current freight economy is hurting, now might be the best time to buy aircraft. Seems like this whole situation with Load Air meant a good opportunity for Thai. Hope it works for them.
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