Thai set for A380 launch
Thai Airways will introduce its first Airbus A380-800 on major intercontinental routes next week.
From September 27, it will operate the double-decker aircraft on flights between Bangkok and Hong Kong, and from October 6 on services between Bangkok and Singapore.
Three additional aircraft will be accepted in the winter programme and another two aircraft will be received in 2013.
Upon acceptance of the second A380-800 in mid-December 2012, Thai will operate the aircraft to and from Bangkok-Frankfurt and Bangkok-Hong Kong.
In January 2013, it will begin operating the A380-800 between Bangkok and Narita and to and from Bangkok-Paris in February 2013.
Bangkok to London services are due to get the A380 within the next 18 months but no date has been set.
The aircraft will carry 507 passengers in three-classes of travel (12 seats in Royal First Class, 60 seats in Royal Silk Class, and 435 seats in Economy Class).
by Bev Fearis
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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