Thai enters twin conversion programme

THAI Airways will extend the life of its passenger aircraft by 10-15 years by converting them into freighters.

In an economical move, Thai executives endorsed the conversion plan instead of extending the two-year contract for long-haul freight forwarding rendered by Southern Air’s two new Boeing 777-200LRFs.

Thai will spend up to US$56 million to convert two of its Boeing 747-400s, with
Boeing or Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) in the running for conversion works. The two freighters will take to the skies in the second quarter of 2012.

Over the next five years Thai’s converted freighters will grow to five, three for long-haul routes and two for regional. The regional freighters should have a payload of 50-60 tonnes.

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