I previously reported that Thai Airways has several A330 series planes parked in Bordeaux waiting for seats from Koito Industries.

It appears that Thai Airways got exactly what they were looking for. They wanted a 3 year lease on Boeing 777-300ER types configured in 3 classes with a business class area with fold flat seats. The planes are needed to service increased demand in their European routes.

Jet Airways seems to be happy with the deal as well. According to Nikos Kardassis, CEO, Jet Airways has been looking to align their installed capacity with their actual load factor, so leasing 3 of their B777-300ER to Thai helps them as well. Nothing quite like a win-win deal.

Here’s a Jet Airways 777 like the ones that were leased out:

Jet Airways Boeing 777

Photo Credit: MitRebuad

Updated on 5/31/2010: Changed picture to a B777, I had mistakenly labeled a picture of an A330 as a B777

In the meantime, airlines like Thai Airways have had to resort to leasing planes from other airlines while their brand new planes sit and wait. Planes like this one, which is parked in temporary storage at Bordeaux Merignac – LFBD, waiting for seats.

Photo Credit: William Vignes

Did I mention that Koito Industries is a Toyota subsidiary? Looks like Toyota is having problems with more than just the automotive division.

This seats fiasco is not purely an Airbus issue. Boeing also has planes that are affected by this, only the Boeing planes are parked in Seattle.

Boeing gets a $1.6 Billion order from Turkish Airlines

Marketwatch reports that Boeing received an order of 20 B737 jets from Turkish Airlines. The order is split evenly between 737-800s and 737-900ER models.

“The 737-800 is the backbone of the Turkish Airlines fleet and proves its value on a daily basis offering unmatched levels of efficiency and reliability,” Marlin Dailey, vice president of Sales, Boeing Commercial Airplanes, said.

“The 737-900ER will fit seamlessly into Turkish Airlines’ operations, sharing the same pilots, systems and nearly 100 percent spares commonality with the airlines’ current Next-Generation 737 fleet. We are also very proud to provide Turkish Airlines’ new 737s with the Boeing Sky Interior, which will be a perfect complement to the carrier’s high levels of service and passenger comfort.”

Photo: Ramanathan.Kathiresan

More airlines expected to add wifi service

According to a report in The Star Online, more airlines are planning on adding wifi service to their flights in the coming years. After they add wifi, they want to add cell phone service as well. We can bid goodbye to the days of not having to sit next to a blathering idiot on their cell phone making sure that everyone on the plane knows just how important they think they are.

Thai Airlines looking to lease 2-4 additional jets

The Bangkok Post reports that Thai needs additional planes to meet with rising demand and deal with a delay in new aircraft deliveries. Apparently, Thai was supposed to have received additional 5 A330-300s but the delivery has been indefinitely delayed due to problems with the seats.

The contractor in charge of putting the seats in the economy section of the planes, a company named Koito Industries, can’t get the seats certified for safety. By the way, Koito Industries, is based in Yokohama and is owned by Toyota.

Thai is looking for a 3 year lease on Boeing 777-300ER types configured in 3 classes with a business class area that has fold flat seats. They want to lease from other airlines because they think they can get a better deal that way. The planes are needed to service increased demand in their European routes.

Boeing 777 at Kansai Airport
Photo: yasushi00