Thai Airways International has budgeted 35,484m baht ($1.06bn) to lease 15 aircraft for its regional and international routes, as per its new aircraft acquisition plan for 2010-2014.

According to the plan, the carrier will lease seven 300-seater aircraft through financial lease with an investment of 31,259m baht ($942m).

In addition, eight more aircraft with a seating capacity of 350 will be acquired through an operating lease of ten to 15 years.

Thai Airways will also invest 922m baht ($27.8m) for two engines on regional routes and 3,303m baht ($99.53m) for three engines for the international route aircraft.

The carrier had acquired previously five Airbus A330-300s that will enter service this year, while another six A380s will join the its fleet between 2012 and 2013.