Thai Airways is currently facing operational difficulties primarily related to delays in maintaining its Airbus A350 fleet, which are impacting the airline's expansion plans. The delays are caused by shortages in Rolls-Royce engines, which are experiencing double the usual turnaround time of six months instead of three.
This maintenance backlog is part of a larger industry-wide supply chain challenge, also affecting airlines such as Vietnam Airlines. Thai Airways has 23 Airbus A350-900 aircraft, with 21 actively in use, but ongoing delays threaten its capacity growth goals for 2026.
Strategic Fleet and Growth Adjustments
In response, Thai Airways is negotiating with Boeing to convert existing 787 Dreamliner options into firm orders, as part of its efforts to bolster its fleet amidst delayed deliveries. The airline previously announced a significant order of 45 Dreamliners in February 2024.
"Failure to secure new aircraft could hinder our growth ambitions," a company spokesperson stated, emphasizing the crucial need for additional capacity.
Ultimately, the airline’s restructuring aims to optimize operations and manage costs, but external supply chain issues pose ongoing challenges to achieving planned expansion and service improvements.
