Orient Thai Airlines is revamping its fleet with the introduction of Boeing 737 Classic jets to replace the vintage McDonnell Douglas 80-series aircraft.
The Thai carrier opted for the US-made Boeings after its plan to acquire 12 Sukhoi Superjet narrow-body jets from Moscow-based Sukhoi Civil Aircraft (SCAC) did not materialise.
Orient Thai founder Udom Tantiprasongchai said SCAC's inability to meet promised delivery dates was due to delays in certification of airworthiness of its new aircraft.
The earliest SCAC could deliver its aircraft was 2015-16, three to four years behind the airline's requirement.
Orient Thai had a non-binding memorandum of understanding with SCAC for two years to purchase 12 jets with an option for another 12.
The jets cost US$25 million apiece, and talks involved SCAC establishing a Sukhoi aircraft maintenance centre and pilot training facility in Thailand.
The airline has taken delivery of three used B737-300s and is working to acquire nine B737-400s, a more versatile and stretched version.
By the first quarter of next year, the airline should be operating six B737 Classic jets while completing its acquisition of 12 B737s toward the end of 2012, said Mr Udom.
It used its MD aircraft to fly mostly domestic routes under the no-frills brand One-Two-Go, which adopted its parent's name of Orient Thai over a year ago.
Orient Thai has four working MD 80 and 90 series jets plus a spare.
The airline is using the B737-300s on one of its two international routes, Chiang Rai-Macau, and a B747 jumbo on its Bangkok-Hong Kong route.
Mr Udom said the airline also wanted to use B737-300s for international charter flights, a lucrative business segment for Orient Thai.
The airline serves seven domestic cities from Don Mueang in Bangkok: Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Phuket, Hat Yai, Trang, Nakhon Si Thammarat and Udon Thani.
Its B737-300s have winglets, a new aerodynamic feature said to achieve 5% fuel savings.
Source: http://www.bangkokpost.com
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