Global Airport News

Thai Airways International has finalised a firm order with Airbus for the purchase of seven Airbus A330-300s, following a memorandum of understanding signed at last month's Farnborough Air Show.

Deliveries of the new aircraft will start from end-2011, says Airbus.

"Thai has ordered the additional A330-300 aircraft to meet our medium haul requirement and enable us to continue to operate one of the most modern and efficient fleets in the region," says the airline's president Piyasvasti Amranand.

"Our fleet strategy aims to improve efficiency and reduce carbon emissions by matching aircraft size to market demand, while working on fleet simplification in the long-term. The popular A330 remains an important part of that strategy."

Thai has said it plans to use the new aircraft to replace its A300-600s. It already operates 20 A330-300s.

"This latest order from Thai is another vote of confidence in the proven efficiency, low operating costs and wide passenger appeal of the A330," says Airbus' chief operating officer John Leahy.