Thailand’s Forgotten Boeing 747 Operators
By Tantawat Homhuan
Thailand’s aviation industry is about to take off, with eight new airlines starting in 2024. However, Thailand’s aviation industry has seen many defunct airlines; some didn’t make it off the ground, whereas some flew for a few short years and ran into financial issues. A surprising number of these forgotten airlines operated the Boeing 747– the Queen of the Skies. This article tells the story of Thailand’s 747s and their airlines.
Thai Airways International (TG)
Thailand’s most famous airline is, of course, Thai Airways International– the flag carrier. TG received its first Boeing 747-200 in 1979, fresh out of Boeing’s Everett factory, which allowed Thai to start its non-stop service between Europe and Thailand. In 1984, Thai’s 747-200 started operating flights to Brisbane and Sydney instead of the DC-10. In 1987, two 747-300s joined the Thai fleet.
On TG’s 30th anniversary in 1990, it delivered its first Boeing 747-400, the largest commercial aircraft at the time. The 747-400 was an important aircraft for Thai Airways. It represented the airline at the founding of Star Alliance in 1997, and two years later, it bore the “Suphannahong” Royal Barge special livery for the King’s 72nd birthday. Thai Airways also painted a 747-400, HS-TGW in the Star Alliance livery.
All of Thai’s 747-200s exited the fleet to join Atlas Air, China Airlines, and Air New Zealand before the turn of the century. The two 747-300s left Thai in 2007 simultaneously after they were sold to the AAR Corporation.
In 2010, some Thai Airways 747s went under a retrofitting, updating economy class with vibrant pink and purple seats and IFE screens; their business offering- Royal Silk Class, gained new angled shell seats with a 10.4-inch IFE monitor, and their Royal First product seats were replaced with semi-private suites.
By 2019, Thai Airways had nine 747s in its fleet, with the rest of the 747-400s being gradually retired and sold. Thai Airways had initially planned to retire their remaining 747-400s in 2024, but when COVID-19 hit, all were put into storage.
As of January 2024, most of the Thai 747 fleet has been scrapped, with the rest in storage, and their return is improbable. Over its 36 years with the airline, Thai Airways operated a total of 26 747s, decked out in economy, business and first class. TG operated the Queen of the Skies to destinations such as Guangzhou, Tokyo, London, Zurich, Rome, Singapore, and Phuket. The remaining Thai 747s are parked at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport, and if you fly in or out of BKK, they’ll be visible.
You can see what Thai’s 747 looked like on the inside here.
Air Siam (VG)
Founded in 1965 by a Thai prince, with operations starting five years later in 1970, Air Siam operated a diverse fleet, ranging from Airbus A300s to BAC One-Eleven 400s and the Boeing 707. Air Siam was Thailand’s first privately owned airline and was seen as a direct competitor of Thai Airways by the Thai government.
Air Siam acquired its first Boeing 747-100 in September 1973, on lease from Irish carrier Aer Lingus, registered as HS-VGB. Air Siam’s second 747-100 arrived in April 1975, registered as HS-VGF, also from Aer Lingus. Finally, in April 1976, a Boeing 747-200 joined the Air Siam fleet, on lease from KLM, registered as HS-VGG. These three Jumbo Jets would fly Air Siam’s longer routes: Honolulu, Hong Kong Kai-Tak, Amsterdam Schiphol, and Tokyo Haneda. Air Siam shut down in 1976 due to financial difficulties, regulatory issues, operational challenges, and competitive pressures from the likes of Thai Airways. Air Siam’s 747 fleet was returned to its owners, Aer Lingus and KLM.
Phuket Air (9R)
Established by a wealthy Thai senator and businessman, along with his wife, in 1999, Phuket Air started operations in December 2001 and rapidly expanded its fleet and network. Starting with just two Boeing 737-200 aircraft, Phuket Air grew to operate a wide fleet of over 22 aircraft in total. Including four 737s, 11 747s, two 757s, and five NAMC YS-11s. Phuket Air flew to European destinations such as London and Amsterdam and Asian destinations, in addition to operating domestic flights.
The first 747 Phuket Air received was a 747-200 that was delivered in 2003 after being purchased from KLM and registered as HS-VAA. 9R flew the 747-200, -300, and -400 on charter flights to Saudi Arabia for the Hajj pilgrimage and to long-haul destinations such as Amsterdam Schiphol and London Gatwick. However, the 747 flights didn’t last long, as trouble hit the airline in May 2005. Phuket Air was banned from flying into the EU due to safety concerns, meaning flights to London and Amsterdam were suspended. The ban was lifted in March 2007 after Air France Industries was hired to help lift 9R’s safety standards.
Towards the end of 2005, Phuket Air began a process of laying off hundreds of staff. It concentrated on leasing its aircraft to other airlines, such as Saudi Arabian Airlines, now known as Saudia. 9R leased 747-200/300 aircraft to Saudia on a short-term wet lease for Hajj charters in the 2005-2006 season and again in October 2007. From late 2006 to 2007, Phuket Air’s 747s flew charters for the Saudi Arabia Ministry of the Interior, flying out deportees. Phuket Air stopped flying scheduled flights in and out of Thailand in 2006 completely and focused on leasing aircraft entirely, with its main client being Saudi Arabian Airlines. In 2011, Phuket Air took delivery of three Boeing 747-400s under a new contract with Saudi Arabian Airlines. Due to impending financial struggles, Phuket Air ceased all operations in 2012, with most of its fleet scrapped.
Thai Pacific Airlines (3P)
An airline almost nobody has heard of, Thai Pacific airlines was founded in August 2003 by Dr Wasant Singhamany and had plans to fly between Bangkok’s Don Mueang Airport and Sydney. Their sole aircraft was a Boeing 747-200, registered as HS-VSV. Unfortunately, in July 2004, the airline shut down due to financial difficulties and owed money to staff and landlords. In March 2005, the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand withdrew Thai Pacific’s operating licence.
Orient Thai Airlines (OX) & One-Two-Go (OG)
Orient Thai Airlines was founded in 1995 and commenced operations in January 1997 with the Lockheed L-1011 Tristar. It focused on flights between Thailand and China but also flew domestic flights. Orient Thai founded its wholly-owned domestic subsidiary, One-Two-Go Airlines, in 2003, and both airlines have been the only airlines to gain the Royal Seal of Approval.
OX flew a wide range of aircraft during its 23-year lifespan: the 737, 747, 757, 767, L-1011, MD-81, and MD-82. Orient Thai Airlines operated a total of 53 aircraft, with 25 Boeing 747s. Orient Thai operated every type of Jumbo Jet from the -100 to the -400 series, with the 747-200 holding the greatest presence in their fleet.
Orient Thai’s 747s were all second-hand, with most of their 747 fleet coming from Japan Airlines and its subsidiary JALways. Orient Thai received its first 747, a 747-200, in November 2001, registered as HS-UTP. Orient Thai used their 747s on flights from Bangkok to Hong Kong, Seoul Incheon, Tokyo, Nagoya, Phuket, Jakarta, Shanghai, Nanchang, and Changsha. Orient Thai also flew a Boeing 747-200SF on cargo flights.
One-Two-Go flew to Chiang Rai and Phuket from their Bangkok Don Mueang airport base and operated a fleet of nine MD-80s, four 757-200s, and two 747-100s. OG was founded in 2003 and served for 7 years, with all operations ending in 2010, when its aircraft were incorporated back into the Orient Thai fleet. One-Two-Go and Orient Thai both gained a notorious reputation for poor safety after the crash of OG269 in Phuket, which killed 90 people and caused the European Commission to ban One-Two-Go Airlines from entering European airspace. An investigation revealed that airline executives were bribing pilots to work for longer than the legal limit, in addition to claims of maintenance fraud.
Orient Thai’s 747s were frequently leased to Saudi Arabian Airlines, Garuda Indonesia, and Biman Bangladesh Airlines. In 2004, an Orient Thai 747 mistakenly flew within 200 metres of Tokyo Tower over downtown Tokyo, which led to OX’s safety being scrutinised. After the Boxing Day Tsunami hit in 2004, Orient Thai started losing money, just like many other airlines in the region. This caused many of the airline’s aircraft to be put into storage at Bangkok Don Mueang Airport. 2011 saw a devastating flood hit Thailand, and Bangkok Don Mueang Airport was almost completely flooded. This meant that many Orient Thai aircraft were stranded and damaged by the flood. In May 2016, Orient Thai was sanctioned by Chinese Authorities for violating regulations. In September 2017, Orient Thai temporarily suspended all operations, which then resumed in December 2017 after completing recertification with the CAAT.
In July 2018, Orient Thai’s financial problems were too great for it to keep operations afloat, and it entered a restructuring process and filed for bankruptcy in October 2018. In 2021, Orient Thai’s remaining assets were seized to pay off remaining debtors. Orient Thai had a fleet size of just 14 and operated to only five destinations by the end of its life.
Where are Orient Thai’s aircraft now?
Although most of OX’s aircraft were sold and scrapped, many are preserved, and you can still see them now. HS-STA, a former Orient Thai 747-400, is preserved as the 747Cafe in Lat Krabang District, Bangkok. A former Orient Thai MD-82, HS-MDL is preserved as the MD82 Café and dispensary in Prawet, Bangkok.
Thai Sky Airlines (9I)
A short-lived charter and cargo airline based out of Bangkok Don Mueang Airport, Thai Sky Airlines was founded in January 2004 and commenced operations in May 2005. A little more than a year later, in October 2006, Thai Sky Airlines ceased operations due to operational and financial difficulties. 9I operated one MD-82, three Lockheed L1011s, and one 747-200. The 747-200 was leased from Phuket Air, HS-VAV. HS-VAV joined Thai Sky Airlines in October 2005 and was returned to its original owner in March 2006.
Thai Sky Airlines flew for tour operators from Southeast Asia to East Asia, Taipei, Kuala Lumpur, and Hong Kong. In August 2006, all three L1011s were parked and stored due to a lack of spare parts, and the MD-82 was leased from Khors Air to replace them; however, it was soon repossessed. Thai Sky Airlines’ aircraft were mostly scrapped; however, two have been preserved. HS-AXE, an L-1011, has been converted into a restaurant at a market in the middle of Bangkok.
Source: https://travelradar.aero/thailands-forgotten-boeing-747-operators/
