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Published on January 17, 2008

Bidding for the jets is expected about mid-year.

President Apinan Suma-naseni yesterday said the aircraft would be leased due to large purchase orders at Boeing.

If THAI opted to buy, the first aircraft would not arrive until 2017, five years behind its scheduled use in 2012, he said.

The board also approved making a down payment of US$3 million (Bt99.4 million) for the purchase of 20 Airbus 321 aircraft, which will cost a total of $900 million, he said.

The national airline yesterday also announced it had adjusted fuel surcharges since last Thursday in line with actual distance flown.

This will result in an increase in surcharges on some international routes and a drop on others.

In a statement, THAI said all international flights with a flying time of less than two hours per sector were now charged $25 or the equivalent.

All international flights of between two and three hours' flying time are charged $30.

Journeys of between three and four hours carry a $35 surcharge.

Flights of four to eight hours' duration are now charged $55, while flights of between eight and 14 hours must pay $95.

Extra-long-range flights are charged $105.

The increase applies to air tickets issued or reissued within Thailand as of December 21 and worldwide as of last Thursday.

Pandit Chanapai, executive vice president for commercial operations, said the adjustment was the result of increased fuel costs over the past year.

The Nation