Thai Airways International (TG, Bangkok Suvarnabhumi) said it will back the planned fleet renewal of Nok Air (DD, Bangkok Don Mueang), although it will not support it financially, Thai English-language daily The Nation has reported.
"We will collaborate with Nok Air, which is facing management problems, and will help it rebuild confidence, including negotiations with trading partners. Our collaboration will also offer Thai's credibility when it comes to Nok Air purchasing new aircraft," Thai Airways President Sumeth Damrongchaitham said.
The Thai flag carrier holds a 15.9% stake in the LCC. Nok Air is majority-owned by the Chulangkul family with three members holding a combined 67.4% stake.
Sumeth also said that Thai Airways will be seeking to enhance cooperation between the mainline, its narrowbody subsidiary Thai Smile (Bangkok Suvarnabhumi), and Nok Air.
According to the ch-aviation fleets module, Nok Air currently operates fifteen B737-800s and eight Dash 8-400s. The carrier also has eight B737-8s on order, including six directly from Boeing. The deliveries of the MAX 8s were due to commence in October 2019 with the first two units coming from GECAS, although this timeline is uncertain due to the type's grounding.
Thai Airways itself is now awaiting the approval of the new Thai government for its fleet renewal plan.
The carrier first submitted a plan to order twenty-three new aircraft, including both narrowbodies for Thai Smile and widebodies for the mainline, in 2017. After failing to obtain approval from the National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB), the carrier resubmitted a reworked plan in early 2019. Its details have not been announced yet.
