Thai Airways Delays Decision on Plane Purchases

Thai Airways International Ltd. has postponed its decision on whether to order six additional Boeing 777s and seven Airbus Industrie A330s.

Thai Airways told the Thailand stock exchange that its board agreed last week to defer booking the planes for an unspecified time.

The former cabinet of Prime Minister Anand Panyarachun in march rejected a Thai Airways request to buy the A330s on the ground that the aircraft, planned to be put into service during 1996-1998, have less seating capacity than the Boeing 777s.

The government earlier approved the carrier’s request to acquire eight Boeing 777s powered by Rolls-Royce engines.