Thai Airways International

Categories: Star Alliance | Airlines of Thailand

Thai Airways International
Image:Thaiair.jpg
IATA TG	ICAO THA	Callsign Thai
Founded		1960
Hubs		Bangkok International Airport Phuket International Airport
Focus cities/ secondary hubs		Chiang Mai International Airport Hat Yai International Airport
Frequent flyer program		Royal Orchid Plus
Member lounge		Royal Orchid Lounge
Alliance		Star Alliance
Fleet size		86
Destinations		74
Parent company		Thai Airways International
Headquarters		Bangkok, Thailand
Key people		Kanok Abhiradee (President), Wanchai Sarathulthat (Chairman)
Website		www.thaiairways.com

Image:Thai Airways tails-KayEss-2.jpeg

Thai Airways aircraft at Bangkok International Airport

Image:Thai.jpg

Thai Airways Boeing 747-400

Image:Thai nyc express.png

Thai Airways promotes Bangkok - New York Non-Stop, branded as "New York Express" (Photo taken by Eric Lo (Hong Kong) Eastern Harbour Crossing Hong Kong exit, Hong Kong)

Thai Airways International (Thai : การบินไทย) is the national air carrier of Thailand. As the national airline of Thailand, Thai operates out of Bangkok International Airport in Bangkok and is a founding member of the Star Alliance network.

1 Code Data
2 History
3 Destinations
4 Incidents and Accidents
5 Fleet
6 See also
7 External links

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Code Data

IATA Code: TG
ICAO Code: THA
Callsign: Thai

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History

The carrier's first flight was on May 1, 1960. Thai started as Thai International along with a domestic branch, Thai Airways Domestc. Later, the two carriers merged to form the present Thai Airways International.

As most tourists to the country come from Europe, Thai has a limited presence in North America, where its flights are marketed by Lufthansa. In May 1, 2005, the airline began a non-stop Bangkok-New York JFK service TG790/791 with its brand new A340-500, with the flight time of 17 hours, being the fastest direct flight from South-East Asia to East Coast of USA, using North Pole path on New York bound. The arrival of new A340-541 kicks-off the airline's image revamp, including new livery, revised font for the title "THAI".

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Destinations

Main article: Thai Airways International destinations

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Incidents and Accidents

On 11 December, 1998 a Thai Airways Airbus A310 HS-TIA crashed into a hill during its third attempt to land at Surat Thani Airport in bad weather. The ILS system was shut down at the airport forcing the crew to use less accurate VOR signals. 101 out of 106 passengers and crew members perished.

On 19 April, 2005, a Singapore Airlines Boeing 777-200 stopped approximately 194 meters beyond a painted stop line at Bangkok International Airport, and its left wing-tip was clipped by a Thai Airways International Airbus A330-300 taxiing for take-off. Both aircraft were severely damaged.

Its safety record rates an "A", the highest grade possible, according to Air Rankings Online. Rankings are cumulatives, based on the number of fatal accidents per million flights that the carrier has flown since 1970.

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Fleet

Aircraft Type	Number of Aircraft	Number of Seats	First Class	Royal Silk Class	Premium Economy Class	Economy Class
Boeing 747-400	9	405	18	62	-	325
	9	389	14	50	-	325
Boeing 747-300	2	405	18	62	-	325
Boeing 777-300	6	388	-	49	-	339
Boeing 777-200	8	358	-	55	-	303
Boeing 737-400	10	149	-	12	-	137
Airbus A340-500	2	215	-	60	42	113
Airbus A340-600	2	267	8	60	-	199
Airbus A330-300	12	305	-	42	-	263
Airbus A300-600	10	247	-	46	-	201
	11	260	-	28	-	232
MD-11	4	285	10	42	-	233
ATR-72	2	66	-	-	-	66
Total Number of Aircraft	86	Updated: 20 July 2005

Thai Airways International has ordered 6 Airbus A380 aircraft. All 6 aircraft will be delivered in the second half of 2008 for use on services to Australia and Europe.

A contract has also been signed with Airbus for 1 Airbus A340-500 (total order now 4) and 1 Airbus A340-600 (total order now 6).

Thai Airways International confirmed an order (made in 2004) for 6 Boeing 777-200ER aircraft to be delivered from 2006 to October 2007. (refs: Airliner World, March 2005).

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