Thai Airways eyeing order for as many as 90 jets from Boeing, Airbus - Bloomberg

Investing.com -- Thai Airways is mulling a possible order for as many as 90 mainly widebody jets from U.S. planemaker Boeing (NYSE:BA) and its rival Airbus (EPA:AIR), according to Bloomberg News.

Citing unidentified people familiar with the situation, Bloomberg said the carrier is aiming to add as many as 80 twin-aisle aircraft through firm orders, options and purchase rights. It is also considering leasing about a dozen smaller narrowbody planes, the report noted.

Thai Airways, which has seen its fleet shrink to 65 from 103 before the COVID-19 pandemic, has not made a final decision on the details of the agreement, some of the people told Bloomberg. Chief Executive Chai Eamsiri said earlier this year that the company it is eyeing adding about 30 new widebody planes, along with more A321neos for its Thai Smile division, in a bid to renew its fleet as travel demand recovers.

The Thai flag carrier has had to sharply overhaul its operations, including through widespread layoffs, during a court-supervised bankruptcy debt restructuring process.

Boeing officials did not respond to a request for comment and Airbus said it would not discuss customer negotiations before they are announced, Bloomberg said. Thai Airways also declined to comment to the news service.