Thai Airways Disputes $7.4 Billion of Aircraft Lessor Claims

Thai Airways International Pcl is challenging some $7.4 billion in claims from dozens of aircraft lessors and engine service provider Rolls-Royce Holdings Plc, saying it isn’t liable for the monies because they concern future expenses and were incurred after the airline received bankruptcy protection from a Bangkok court.

Thailand’s flag carrier, which is undergoing a court-supervised restructuring to trim debt and return to profit by raising fresh capital, is disputing around 192 billion baht ($6.3 billion) claimed by 48 lessors including BOC Aviation Ltd. and SMBC Aviation Capital Ltd., and another 33 billion baht that Rolls-Royce says it’s owed for maintenance services, according to a copy of the debt rehabilitation plan seen by Bloomberg.