Thai Cargo’s ambition to regain its former main deck cargo glory will get a boost with the recent block booking agreement for two B777-200LR freighterswhich will arrive in early 2010.

Thai Airways International has signed Block Space Agreement to utilise two Boeing 777-200 Long Range Freighters operated by Southern Air Inc.

The agreement makes Thai the first operator in the region to offer this capability to its cargo customers using the new B777-200LR Freighter.

The two aircraft will arrive in early 2010 and will possibly be put on a Bangkok to Europe route initially and later expanded to others such as Australia and USA. The freighters will enable Thai Cargo to partially realise its ambition of regaining its former main deck cargo strength which it lost when it ceased operating dedicated freighters.

This route will also delay difficult decisions around converting some of its ageing wide-body B747-400s into cargo planes, or purchasing brand new freighters instead.

The agreement also sends a message to the industry that Thai is committed to strengthening its cargo profile, Thai executives said.

The cargo division is targeting largely bulk goods from China to the West with cargo to Asia on the return flights, said THAI executives.

Brian R. Neff, president of Southern Air, said: “There is growing recognition in the cargo industry that the B777LRF will be the long-haul aircraft for the coming decade and beyond, and our new partnership with THAI Cargo only confirms this recognition. We welcome THAI Cargo into our blue-chip customer base and look forward to a successful cooperation”.

Southern Air Inc. was founded in 1999 as a low-cost, high quality cargo carrier specializing in the provision of block space and aircraft, crew, maintenance, and insurance (ACMI) services.