Malaysia Airlines & Thai Airways Focus On Europe Rather Than Australia With A380s

Malaysia Airlines (MAS) and Thai Airways are planning to increase capacity on European routes as they take delivery of the remaining A380s from their six-aircraft orders.Both carriers have opted against implementing original plans for deploying any of their initial A380s to Australia.

MAS took delivery of its first A380s in May-2012 and Thai in Sep-2012.

MAS now operates one daily A380 flight to London Heathrow and will use additional A380s to introduce a second daily Kuala Lumpur-Heathrow frequency and a daily Kuala Lumpur-Paris flight.

Thai so far has only operated regional routes with its A380 but will soon begin using the aircraft for Bangkok-Frankfurt, followed by Bangkok-Paris.

Thai at this point has no intention of following MAS in using the A380 for London.the A380 on Bangkok-London would represent too big of a jump in capacity. He pointed out that the carrier currently serves the route with Airbus A340-600s, which Thai configures with only 267 seats, and that the carrier prefers to maintain two daily frequencies on the route with relatively small capacity aircraft.

Thai earlier this year unveiled plans to make Bangkok-Frankfurt its first long-haul A380 route, with daily service beginning 15-Dec-2012. Thai is currently only operating the A380 from Bangkok to Hong Kong and Singapore. The carrier just took delivery of its second A380, making it possible to begin long-haul operations.

Thai prepares for A380 services to Paris and Tokyo

Mr Chanapai says Thai aims to begin the second of its previously identified long-haul A380 routes, Bangkok-Paris, in Mar-2013, after the carrier receives its fourth A380. Thai also plans to begin Bangkok-Tokyo Narita A380 service on 16-Jan-2013, after taking its third A380. Mr Chanapai says Tokyo and possibly Hong Kong A380 services will continue after Paris commences but the Singapore A380 flight will not remain in Thai’s schedule.

MAS will join Thai in launching A380 services at Paris CDG in Mar-2013. MAS commercial director Hugh Dunleavy said during a press conference at the AAPA Assembly of Presidents that the carrier will upgrade its daily Kuala Lumpur-Paris flight after receiving its fifth A380 in early 2013. MAS plans to upgrade its second daily Heathrow flight on 24-Nov-2012, following delivery of the third aircraft.