Singapore_Air From United Kingdom, joined Nov 2000, 13711 posts, RR: 21 Posted (11 years 3 months 3 weeks 1 day 2 hours ago) and read 2191 times:
Thai Airways to choose between Airbus A380 and Boeing B747-400 in 2002
AFX Europe; Jan 29, 2002
PARIS (AFX) - Thai Airways International commercial director for France Gilles Ringwald said the company will make a choice between the Airbus Industrie A380 or the Boeing Co B747-400 some time this year.
Thai's fellow Star Alliance members Lufthansa and Singapore Airlines have already opted for the A380.
GOT From Sweden, joined Dec 2000, 1912 posts, RR: 1 Reply 3, posted (11 years 3 months 3 weeks 1 day ago) and read 1983 times:
I think it would be nice to see TG getting A380. Can they compete with the other airlinesif they don't? They may loose status becuse they don't fly the biggest a/c in the world, while for example SQ does.
I hope to see the A380 in TG colours and I belive it will happen.
GOT
Just like birdwatching - without having to be so damned quiet!
Cedarjet From United Kingdom, joined May 1999, 7702 posts, RR: 55 Reply 7, posted (11 years 3 months 3 weeks 19 hours ago) and read 1897 times:
747-400, 747-400ER. Doesn't matter. Thai are going to invest in the future, not the ancient past. The 747 is a great aircraft (my all-time favourite) but when an airline come to invest literally billions of dollars on their new flagship which they will fly for the next 20 years, aren't they going to invest it in a design which will still be in production, indeed just hitting it's stride (like the 744 in the 90s), or are they going to invest in a design which is in it's final incarnation and will probably be out of production in about ten years? Which aircraft is going to be easiest keep adding to the fleet over the years, which will have the highest second hand value?
The A380 will look gorgeous in the Thai livery as well.
fly Saha Air 707s daily from Tehran's downtown Mehrabad to Mashhad, Kish Island and Ahwaz
Stratofish From Germany, joined Sep 2001, 1010 posts, RR: 6 Reply 8, posted (11 years 3 months 3 weeks 19 hours ago) and read 1876 times:
Shouldn´t they just consider their predicted load-factors?
I mean these a/c s are in different segments they could easily choose some of both types since they aren´t similar a/c s (except for almost same range of course).
Lowfareair From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 10, posted (11 years 3 months 3 weeks 17 hours ago) and read 1827 times:
Time will tell. It doesn't matter if their flagship is the A380 or the 744ER if they can't get the loads. Hell, if a national airline could only fill an RJ, make that the flagship airplane, not a large jet that will just make them lose money.
Dynkrisolo From United States of America, joined Feb 2001, 1834 posts, RR: 7 Reply 12, posted (11 years 3 months 3 weeks 16 hours ago) and read 1801 times:
FWIW, both Air France and Qantas will operate the A380 and the B744ER.
747-600X From United States of America, joined Jan 2000, 2742 posts, RR: 17 Reply 13, posted (11 years 3 months 3 weeks 14 hours ago) and read 1773 times:
I think, given what's happened so far with the A380, that I feel pretty safe saying that an airline like 777-300, 747-400, MD-11 operator Thai will surely go A380.
"Mental health is reality at all cost." -- M. Scott Peck, 'The Road Less Traveled'
Boeingnut From United States of America, joined Oct 2001, 402 posts, RR: 0 Reply 21, posted (11 years 3 months 3 weeks 2 hours ago) and read 1603 times:
Well, maybe they should wait. We've all seen problems that the first versions of AC have (cough...MD-11..cough). It's just like the software business, you should stay away from x.0 versions. From what I've heard on this forum and other webpages, the a380 is leaning towards being a bit more husky than they planned, so it might have some problems. On the other hand, Airbus might have the right product right off the bat. It's all these factors that Thai (and all the other airlines out there that have not yet commmited to the a380) are going to have to consider.
And to all these people saying that the 747 is outdated. The 747-400 is a relativley new aircraft (rolled out in 1989). The only main thing that it has in common with the 747-100,200,300 is the humped upper deck. The 744 has totally new avionics compared to the classic 747s, a new wing, pretty much new everythings. It's like comparing the Indy cars from the 1960's to today's Indy cars. Heck, they both have four wheel, an open cockpit, and the drivers all wear helmets, and open wheels.
Personally, Im going to say that Thai will go with some more 744s for now, and also have some 380s on the order books so they can get a few (probably 2007, maybe 2008) when the current order book is emptied.
Excuse me, but what does God need with a starship?
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but the B747-400ER.
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