Thai Airways International plans to spend 2.3 billion baht ($76.3 million) to retrofit six Boeing 747s with new seats and in-flight entertainment systems, as part of a bigger project to refurbish its fleet. It will carry out the retrofitting of the six 747s from 2012 to 2013. The aircraft, which is operated on intercontinental routes, will be fitted with new seats in all classes and a new in-flight entertainment system with personal screens. The new first class and business class cabins on the 747s will feature lie-flat seats, while the new economy class seats will be fitted with personal screens. "Passengers in all classes will enjoy the in-flight connectivity functions to access voicemail, short messages and multi-media messages, and the Internet," says the Star Alliance airline. B/E Aerospace will supply the first class and economy class seats on the 747s, while EADS Sogerma Services will provide the business class seats. Panasonic Avionics will supply the in-flight entertainment system and in-seat power supply system. Thai will also retrofit another six 747s from 2011 to 2012 with new seats and personal in-flight entertainment system screens in economy class. During the same period, it will add personal screens to economy class in eight Boeing 777-200s. From 2012 to 2017, the carrier will progressively carry out improvements to cabin interiors and in-flight products on six A340-600s, four A340-500s and six 777-200ERs. The airline will have its new product offering on new aircraft to be delivered from 2011. It also aims to roll out a greater variety of in-flight entertainment offerings from January 2011. "These projects will create value for customers and increase customer satisfaction as well as enhance [our] corporate image and competitiveness," says the carrier.
