Thailand Eyes Direct Flights from US Amid Growing Tourist Demand

[snoop1130]

File photo for reference only

 

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is pushing for direct flights from the United States to Thailand, as local airlines remain hesitant about these routes. This initiative comes after the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) positively assessed Thailand’s aviation safety. The Transport Ministry hopes this will upgrade Thailand from Category 2 to Category 1, allowing Thai airlines to expand into the US market.

 

Direct flights from Bangkok to Los Angeles by Thai Airways stopped in 2015 due to unprofitability and a downgrade by the FAA. Siripakorn Cheawsamoot from TAT explained that Thai Airways must focus on more profitable routes during its rehabilitation and amid a global aircraft shortage.

 

The US could bring one million visitors to Thailand this year. TAT is in talks with international airlines for direct flights to start by winter 2025 or 2026. Currently, no US airlines offer direct flights to Thailand. Air Canada provides direct flights from Vancouver to Bangkok.

 

 

TAT is also in discussions with Taiwan’s EVA Air and US carriers Delta and United Airlines. EVA Air already operates direct flights from Europe to Bangkok and might apply a similar model for US routes. The US market could grow to over 1.1 million visitors next year, and US tourists tend to stay longer, contributing significantly to Thailand's economy.

 

To capitalize on this opportunity, TAT will open a new office in Chicago targeting travelers from the Midwest and certain Canadian regions, focusing on affluent tourists and those in the modern agricultural sector.

 

-- 2024-12-06

 

 

[Lingba]

misleading article...it aint happening anythime soon

[soi3eddie]

56 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

Direct flights from Bangkok to Los Angeles by Thai Airways stopped in 2015 due to unprofitability and a downgrade by the FAA.

 

This was Thai Airways - which reason was it really - unprofitable or deemed unsafe by the FAA?

 

If an American carrier thought it profitable, they would likely already be flying direct non-stop to Thailand.

 

Will Thai ever start flying to USA again on a commercial, rather than vanity, basis? 

 

 

[Paradise Pete]

10 hours ago, soi3eddie said:

 

This was Thai Airways - which reason was it really - unprofitable or deemed unsafe by the FAA?

 

If an American carrier thought it profitable, they would likely already be flying direct non-stop to Thailand.

 

Will Thai ever start flying to USA again on a commercial, rather than vanity, basis? 

 

 

 

The upgrade to Category 1 is what matters here.

 

Category 1:

 

• Indicates that the country’s aviation authority meets ICAO standards for safety oversight.

• Airlines from Category 1 countries can initiate new service to the U.S. and maintain existing operations without additional restrictions.

• A Category 1 rating demonstrates that the aviation authority effectively regulates safety, including air traffic control, pilot certification, aircraft maintenance, and operational procedures.

 

 

[Sydebolle]

Professionalism would be to study the needs of tourists and then create the product. The airline or the tourism promotion board does not have to eye around, they have to create the product which, if attractive will have growing numbers of followers. 

Thailand was "discovered" as an alternative some 40 years ago, prior to that it was more known as a country of ill repute; "Amazing Thailand" campaign was born. Tourists, returning back to their home countries, created the need for Thai food and Thai restaurants in faraway lands and cities; the demand came from returning tourists and not the endeavours of anybody inside Thailand. 

Nothing has changed to this day; do good and talk about it. Forget about the red light reputation - every country has that. Do away with your racism, your two-, three- and multi-tier pricing policy, stop looking down on other races, stop calling Westerners "rich farang", teach your people English across the hospitality board, simplify your tremendously complicated and corrupt immigration acts. 

Once a competitive, clean and good product is here, the market will follow - it is called marketing! 

[Nickcage49]

That would be sweet! Although I love buying booze at Taipei airport.

[khunjeff]

3 hours ago, Paradise Pete said:

The upgrade to Category 1 is what matters here.

 

The upgrade is necessary for Thai carriers to start flying nonstop to the US, but not sufficient. (The Category 2 rating never prevented airlines from the US or other countries from operating between the US and Thailand.)

 

If Thailand-registered airlines can't see a way to make a profit from nonstop US flights, they won't operate them - no matter what TAT wants.

 

14 hours ago, soi3eddie said:

This was Thai Airways - which reason was it really - unprofitable or deemed unsafe by the FAA?

 

1) Thai Airways was never "deemed unsafe". The FAA rates countries, not individual airlines. 

 

2) A Category 2 downgrade doesn't stop existing flights to the US - those are "allowed to continue operations at current levels under heightened FAA surveillance". It only forbids new or expanded services. 

 

https://www.faa.gov/about/initiatives/iasa/definitions

[mdr224]

Sure would be nice. The trip currently is brutal for me. 3 connecting flights totalling 24 hours

[Yagoda]

IIRC, I went direct to BKK from Anchorage Alaska and it was about 15 hours. Folks were on it from NYC which was another 6.

 

Long flights.

 

That was 20 years plus ago though.

[Luuk Chaai]

48 minutes ago, mdr224 said:

Sure would be nice. The trip currently is brutal for me. 3 connecting flights totalling 24 hours

 

 June 2008  I caught one of the last out bound and back direct flights from NYC to BKK  on Thai air

It was very enjoyable..  food and beverage service was great ,,    after the  dinner meal .   a Stewart actually came thru with white gloes and a silver platter with shots of brandy   and I was in economy  

[bamnutsak]

Not sure if TAT officials are talking about TG, or one-stop, or non-stop direct flights.

 

If it's non-stop direct and TG, it would be LAX, if it is United, then SFO.

 

There is a shortage of supply (aircraft and pilots) between North America and Asia, which leads to higher prices and less award inventory.

 

For now, this seems like TAT-talk.

 

 

[NedR69]

15 hours ago, soi3eddie said:

 

This was Thai Airways - which reason was it really - unprofitable or deemed unsafe by the FAA?

 

If an American carrier thought it profitable, they would likely already be flying direct non-stop to Thailand.

 

Will Thai ever start flying to USA again on a commercial, rather than vanity, basis? 

 

 

US carriers wouldn't have maintenance support by Category 1 workers in Thailand.  Although you can book a US carrier to Thailand, you'll be flying on non-US metal after your connection.  And those cat 2 or higher foreign alrlines can't fly to the US because they aren't considered to be safely operated/maintained.

[Patong2021]

There is  insufficient demand for a regular route from the Canada/USA market. If there was, Air Canada would offer the service year round.  It is only seasonal now for 6 months. 3X a week in Oct/Nov and then 5X a week until Songkran. Capacity is plentiful on the route.

 

TG was not competitive with the Chinese carriers. Despite all the comments about wanting a direct route, those same people would rather fly China Eastern or Air China with a connection in China if they will save a few hundred $$. As it is, I doubt that TG can even  compete with AC.

 

Compounding the issue is that LAX isn't needed as a hub anymore.  Rather than connect to a flight to BKK via LAX, Pax can often find better priced and  shorter travel times if they connect from their city via ICN, HKG, TYO.

 

It is unlikely TG will come back to the USA.

[tai4de2]

17 hours ago, mdr224 said:

Sure would be nice. The trip currently is brutal for me. 3 connecting flights totalling 24 hours

 

How would non-stop flights between the USA and Thailand actually help you in practice?

1. If you live in a place that requires multiple connecting flights now, you are not likely to be served by any nonstop to Bangkok.
2. You could connect to the nonstop through YVR today; having a nonstop at some other North American city would make little difference (and would be a longer flight, since YVR is geographically the most proximate to Asian cities).

[GammaGlobulin]

Direct Flights from America to Thailand might equal....

More Passport Bros for Thailand, too.

 

Will you appreciate them, much?

 

 

[GammaGlobulin]

20 hours ago, mdr224 said:

Sure would be nice. The trip currently is brutal for me. 3 connecting flights totalling 24 hours

 

Why not just stay in Thailand?