Thai Airways is selling off two of its Airbus A380s

Thai Airways has added two Airbus A380s to a fleet of over 40 pre-loved jets which the troubled flag-carrier is looking to sell.

It's yet another dramatic fall from grace for the superjumbo, which has been sidelined by the sweeping impact of COVID-19.

Thai grounded all six of its former flagships in March 2019, and now the final two – delivered in late 2013 – have appeared on the airline's Thai Aircraft Trading website, which offloads used aircraft in what's described as "as-is, where-is condition" – which we're petty sure means no returns and no refunds.

Thai took delivery of six superjumbos across 2012-2013.

Thai says the listing "is a part of a market survey to find potential buyers for the items listed in accordance with Thai's business plan under the reorganization proceeding."

"The actual sale will take place under the business reorganization plan and would require approvals of relevant stakeholders and the Bankruptcy Court."

Each Thai A380 boasted eight open first class suites at the nose of the upper deck.

Thai says the surplus superjumbos have flown for an average of 30,000 hours each.

While there's no price tag attached but it's certain to be far less than Airbus' original US$390 million list price.

Thai's Airbus A380s also include spacious and well-appointed first class washrooms.

Also on the block are all ten of Thai's Boeing 747s, 18 older Boeing 777-series jets, nine Airbus A340s, three Boeing 737s and a solitary Airbus A330.

If you lack the budget or the space (or both) to park a jet in your yard, Thai is also selling off four flight simulators, including one for the Boeing 747.

As reported earlier today, Thai Airways is also in discussions with Boeing over the fate of three new Boeing 777-300ER jets ordered in pre-pandemic days.

These are Thai's first Boeing 777-300ER deliveries since 2015, and are said to feature first class suiites, compared to the previous 777s which top out with business class.

Read more: Thai Airways puts the brakes on new Boeing 777s

While Thai appears to be hanging onto some A3800s for now, Air France and Lufthansa have scuppered their A380 fleets.

Etihad Airways' luxe-laden A380s remain grounded and their future uncertain: even airline CEO Tony Douglas admits that while passengers love the double-decker cruiser, "I think it’s heavily handicapped by two engines too many, and other aircraft that can do the job far more efficiently, far more sustainably."

Etihad enlisted Nicole Kidman to help launch its opulent Airbus A380 Residence in 2014.

Qantas' entire superjumbo fleet is being parked until at least the middle of 2023, pending the recovery of demand for air travel in the post-pandemic world, while Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker says his airline's ten superjumbos "will not return for at least a year, maybe never."

Singapore Airlines confirmed it would retire more than a third of its A380s which have been "deemed surplus to fleet requirements", although the remaining superjumbos will all be upgraded to feature the airline's latest first class suites and business class seats.

It's a premature farewell for over a third of Singapore Airlines' A380 fleet.

Emirates is the sole superjumbo customer to sound an upbeat note, with airliner president Tim Clark optimistic that the carrier’s hundred-strong A380 fleet could return to the skies by 2022.

Clark remains optimistic that 2021 will be the year of the COVID vaccine, with the first wave of global inoculations against the pandemic unleashing a pent-up appetite for travel.

"I can see demand for travel moving at pace," Clark remarked last month.

"My own view, and it’s always an optimistic view, is by end of next calendar year or the first quarter of 2022 we’ll have all our A380s flying."

The Gulf colossus takes delivery of three factory-fresh A380s this month, one of which will be fitted with its long-awaited "signature Premium Economy product."

Read more: Emirates' premium economy seat revealed

David Flynn

David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.