Image source: Boeing

As part of its ¡®Dream Tour¡¯ to South East Asia, the new Boeing 787 Dreamliner was welcomed into Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport and will be added to Thai Airways International's (THAI) fleet in two years.

The airline will add four 787-8 Dreamliners to its fleet in 2014, with two more being delivered the following year.

Two B787- 9 aircraft are set to join the fleet in 2017, totalling eight 787 planes in THAI's possession.

All aircraft will be leased from the International Lease Finance Corporation for a period of 12 years.

The introduction of the modern aircraft comes as part of a new plan, seeking to reduce costs and limit workforce expenditure.

¡°The firm will attempt to reduce unnecessary costs and improve our working efficiency,¡± said THAI Airways President Piyasvasti Amranand.

Mr Piyasvasti said the advantage of the 787 was energy saving, with 20 per cent less fuel consumption than comparable aircraft. It will also be 30 per cent cheaper to maintain.

The 787-8 Dreamliner is able to fly 210-250 passengers on routes of 14,200-15,200 kilometres, while the 787- 9 Dreamliner will carry 250-290 passengers on routes of 14,800-15,750km.