Available A-340's - Thai

[gaucho99]

Thai Airways is looking to sell some A-340's. Do you think we'll go after them for the China routes or hold off since we asked to delay the route?

Thai plans to sell four Airbus 340-500 jets, which it uses for long-haul flights. "Despite the young age of the planes, (Thai Air President Apinan Sumanaseni) said it would be difficult to sell the long-haul aircraft as record oil prices are resulting in many airlines shifting to more profitable short- to medium-haul routes," the Journal writes.

http://www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/ite...k=51082878.blog

 

[marco90821]

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1212760093...=googlenews_wsj

Thai to sell four A340-500 aircraft. Would US consider their purchase and could/would they consider China flights on "schedule" if they could acquire for the right price?

 

[NiceLandingCaptain]

Quick - send an email to DP before they get snatched up by somebody else. I hear SWA is looking to reach out internationally......

Seriously, management has been completely in favor of the A330 over the A340 for some time now. Those big 4-engined jobs take off with 685,000 lbs. of fuel - roughly a hundred thousand gallons. Multiply times $4.00/gallon and you can see the problem.

 

[Travelpro72]

NEVER HAPPEN! ! ! ! Ya think they are selling them on the cheap? RIIIIIIIGHT! ! ! ! :blink:

 

[Hey.. Chill Out]

IF they're cheap, maybe I can buy one!

Ill turn it into soul plane!

 

[gaucho99]

NEVER HAPPEN! ! ! ! Ya think they are selling them on the cheap? RIIIIIIIGHT! ! ! ! :blink:

Well, Thai is quoted as saying they are going to be difficult to sell considering the current economy and fuel prices. That would indicate they may have to sell them at a discount.....Probably not cheap but more than likely a good price for the buyer.

 

[Irideover]

Quick - send an email to DP before they get snatched up by somebody else. I hear SWA is looking to reach out internationally......

Seriously, management has been completely in favor of the A330 over the A340 for some time now. Those big 4-engined jobs take off with 685,000 lbs. of fuel - roughly a hundred thousand gallons. Multiply times $4.00/gallon and you can see the problem.

Hey NLC, max fuel is 380,000 for the -500......

http://www.airbus.com/en/aircraftfamilies/...ifications.html

 

[bigbusboy]

Thai Airways is looking to sell some A-340's. Do you think we'll go after them for the China routes or hold off since we asked to delay the route?



http://www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/ite...k=51082878.blog

Nope. Won't happen. Flying two engine ETOPS a/c an extra 45-60 minutes in order to stay within ETOPS limits is cheaper than flying four engines direct with today's oil prices. These four A340's will be the first of many very soon; including some 747-400's as well. Two engine a/c will be the future.

 

[FWAAA]

Well, Thai is quoted as saying they are going to be difficult to sell considering the current economy and fuel prices. That would indicate they may have to sell them at a discount.....Probably not cheap but more than likely a good price for the buyer.

Wouldn't matter if they were free. They still wouldn't be economical for US to operate to China at today's fuel prices.

 

[NiceLandingCaptain]

Hey NLC, max fuel is 380,000 for the -500......

http://www.airbus.com/en/aircraftfamilies/...ifications.html

Whoops, my bad: 56,750 gallons to be precise.

That's still a ~quarter million dollar fuel bill to gas one of those babies up. Shoot, I have a hard time squeezing the company out of ten bucks to get my new uniform trousers altered.........LOL.

NLC

 

[aredeeyou22]

Wouldn't matter if they were free. They still wouldn't be economical for US to operate to China at today's fuel prices.

Bingo. And please don't post obvious statements here; it may cut down on the whining, and then what?

 

[zethya]

Actually it is potentially feasible to use the -500 on PHL-PEK and still conserve fuel. All they need to do is significantly reduce the passenger and cargo sizes to a TOW compatible with a economically less than maximum fuel load for the journey. Also, a Polar routing typically has less environmental purturbations (e.g., wind), than an East-West routing. If the stated intent for this route is still valid (money looser for first 3 years (or so) and a "keyhole" into Asia), then why not use the -500s IF they can be leased at significant discount through 2013? This would also be a perfect aircraft (if fuel returns to reasonable levels) for NRT, HKG, DEL or possibly even SIN.

 

[Pacemaker]

Can they be operated profitably on a route like PHL-ALB?

'Cause from what I've been reading on this board the last 3 years or so, that Delaware-sized patch of sky is the only place there's money to be made in aviation.

 

[BuffaloJoe]

IF they're cheap, maybe I can buy one!

Ill turn it into soul plane!

Austin Powers Love Jet

 

[700UW]

US has all ready obtained them and been flying them in China, without anyone's knowledge.

US A340-600