The purchase of ten A340s in 2003 by Thai Airways International (TG, Bangkok Suvarnabhumi) is being questioned, reports The Bangkok Post. Former vice president of the airline, Yothin Pamornmontree, has urged a probe into the process which led to the acquisition of four A340-500s and six A340-600s.

The aircraft were purchased by the airline despite objections from the National Economic and Social Development Board. The A340-500s were deployed on flights between Bangkok Suvarnabhumi and New York JFK, and later Los Angeles International. However, after just three years of service, Thai withdrew the aircraft from the routes due to operational costs, with the cost of fuel increasing steadily from 2003 until its peak in mid-2008. The relative inefficiency of the quad jets - even with declining fuel costs - has led Thai to keep them grounded rather than redeploy them on other routes.

The petition comes shortly after the admission by Rolls-Royce that it participated in corrupt measures to secure the sale of Trent engines to Thai Airways in the same period. That investigation was carried out by the UK Serious Fraud Office, and has led to the Thai National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) looking into the allegations. However, the NACC is facing difficulties extracting information from UK and US agencies because of its severe penalties for charges of corruption.

Since grounding its A340 fleet, the Thai carrier has struggled to find buyers for the aircraft. Two attempts over the past three years have failed, and they remain mothballed at Utapao and Bangkok Don Mueang. One A340-500 is currently being converted into a VIP aircraft for the Royal Thai Air Force (Bangkok Don Mueang).