Thai Airways International (TG, Bangkok Suvarnabhumi) will sell off its shareholdings in several independent firms as it proceeds with the next phase of its restructuring programme airline president Charamporn Jotikasthira has said.

Announcing a Q1 net profit of THB6 billion (USD168.5 million), Charamporn told a news conference this week that the shareholdings will include a 37% stake in local LCC Nok Air (DD, Bangkok Don Mueang) as well as a 23% stake in Bangkok Aviation Fuel Services.

The Nation newspaper reports that the carrier will also issue refinancing bonds worth THB7 billion (USD196.5 million) this year and will also invest THB10 billion (USD280.8 million) in maintenance projects.

Meanwhile, Thai has delayed the A350's planned entry-into-service date by one month Airline Route has reported.

Whereas the carrier's first A350-900 was to have made its commercial debut on the July 1 rotation between Bangkok Suvarnabhumi and Melbourne Tullamarine, that date has now been pushed back to August 1.

Thai has a total of twelve A350s on order from Airbus (AIB, Toulouse Blagnac) the first of which, HS-THB (cn 44), was to have been delivered this month.