Thai Airways expands fleet

The A340-600 is the newest aircraft model, which is medium and long-range aircraft and uses the Rolls-Royce RR Trent 556 engine. This type of engine has great advantages in helping the airline to reduce fuel costs and increase the capacity of cargo. This technology allows the aircraft to fly up to 14,640 kilometers. THAI will use these five new aircraft to fly passengers to five difference destinations in Europe and Asia.

THAI's A340-600 aircraft is configured with a total of 267 seats in three classes:

• First Class is comprised of 8 seats. Passengers will enjoy the utmost comfort and be able to fully relax in shell type seats arranged in a single row setting. This type of arrangement will allow passengers to have maximum privacy. These First Class seats offer 83-inch pitch with 180 degree recline angle and leg rest.
• Business Class is comprised of 60 shell type seats. Passengers will appreciate 60-inch pitch in 2-2-2 configuration and 170 degree recline angle with leg rest.
• Economy Class has a total of 199 seats with recline angle between 115-122 degree and 32-34-inch pitch in 2-4-2 configuration.

The interior design of A340-600 presents the new image of THAI, which exhibits the perfect blend of Thai and modern settings. The new design does not only give passengers and new feeling, but also provides passengers with maximum comfort. The new features include mood lighting, personal telephone service for First and Business Class passengers, PC Power, and personal screen for each seat in all three classes. First Class and Business Class passengers and luxuriate in a personal screen of 10.4 inches wide. The 9 inches wide screens are furnished in Economy Class. For the first row passengers in the Economy Class, in-arm monitors of 6.5 inches wide are provided.

The entertainment system in the new A340-600 aircraft is upgraded and is now loaded with the Digital Audio and Video on Demand (AVOD) system. This means that passengers may choose their own inflight entertainment programs with their personal screens. Passengers can be entertained throughout the entire flight from a wide range of selections of interesting programs. The available selections include movies of some 30 titles, 70 discovery films, 100 music album of 600 titles, 30 games, news from leading news channels around the world, as well as a language learning program, including Thai language for tourists.

This new A340-600 aircraft will be used to service passengers travelling to Europe, including Zurich, Switzerland, Milan, and Spain, and Tokyo, Japan in Asia. THAI received the two A340-600 aircraft in June and August 2005 respectively and will receive another three aircraft of this model from Airbus by the end of the year 2005, which will complete the order for five aircraft under the A340-600 aircraft type.

Thai Airways is a CAPA Member. For more information on the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation's membership service, please click the icon below.