File photo

 

Thai Airways International (THAI) is expanding its network and boosting flight frequencies, aiming to fortify its regional presence and mitigate market dependencies.

 

Chai Eamsiri, THAI's CEO, emphasised that these changes aim to bolster the airline's regional hub status, linking Asia and beyond. These growth strategies aim to boost passenger volumes during off-peak hours, optimise slot utilisation, and lessen reliance on specific markets.

 

The Chinese market is a significant focus for THAI. Currently, the airline serves five Chinese cities, with plans to double weekly flights to Guangzhou and Beijing by the 2025–2026 winter schedule.

 

Routes to Xiamen, Chongqing, and Changsha will resume, while new services to Wuhan and Shenzhen will commence. Mr. Chai anticipates this expansion will boost both flight offerings and Chinese market revenues, reported the Bangkok Post.

 

Besides Chinese passengers, these routes attract European and Australian travellers who transit via Bangkok, showcasing THAI's network-driven model. Current flights to China achieve 70% occupancy in low seasons and 80% in peak seasons.

 

THAI also eyes new routes to Gaya, India, and various domestic destinations as it acquires new aircraft. Currently, the fleet consists of 78 aircraft, including 58 wide-body jets and 20 narrow-body jets.

 

By the end of the month, THAI will introduce its first Airbus A321neo, followed by an additional A321neo and a Boeing 787-9 by year’s end, primarily for routes to China and India. An additional 15 A321neos are expected from next year.

 

To meet demand ahead of new deliveries, THAI plans to lease 8–10 wide-body aircraft for six years, with decisions on this expected next month. Fleet enhancements include cabin refurbishments across various aircraft models.

 

Looking ahead, THAI has placed firm orders for 45 Boeing 787 Dreamliners, with the first deliveries scheduled to begin in 2028. By 2033, THAI envisions a 150-strong fleet, featuring Boeing 777-300ERs, Airbus A350-900s, Boeing 787s, and A321neos.

 

Passenger booking patterns are shifting, with Asian travellers booking just three to four months in advance, in contrast to the previous six months, often waiting for promotions. European passengers, however, maintain a six-month booking window.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Bangkok Post 2025-08-25

 

4 hours ago, webfact said:

These growth strategies aim to boost passenger volumes during off-peak hours, optimise slot utilisation, and lessen reliance on specific markets.

Adjust your pricing and people will fly

No word of direct LAX-BKK flights.

Fly high, up up and away until the next insolvency!

I can tell you from very painful experience that you have to be short and thin to fit into the worlds smallest long haul economy seats never ever again for me 🤔

 

Start by improving the quality of meals! Not much better than no frills airlines food.

Wonder when they will re-introduce Brisbane direct flights again……

“Thai Airways  set to soar”

I can relate to that, the last time I flew With Thai Airways, I got a “sore“ bottom because of the thinly padded and narrow seats.  I am only 160cm tall and weigh 69 kg. I don’t know how larger people manage. Some years ago, coming to Thailand I flew with Thai on numerous occasions and the service and the food standard went down and the air fares went up 

Two questions:
a) who covered the THB 300+ billion accrued losses from the past
b) where does all the cash come from for the rebirth of the airline

3 hours ago, sammieuk1 said:

I can tell you from very painful experience that you have to be short and thin to fit into the worlds smallest long haul economy seats never ever again for me 🤔

 

They are pretty much industry standard width and pitch. 

They should invest in better cabin crew. My last flight on long haul in business class with Thai wasn't a good experience, 90 percent of the time all crew were grumpy and unwilling o serve drinks. That the seats aren't well maintained is a negativ experience on top.

 

I'm still missing the domestic flights with Thai Smile where the crew was really friendly and food much better than with Thai now. BTW that was in premium class.

5 hours ago, sammieuk1 said:

I can tell you from very painful experience that you have to be short and thin to fit into the worlds smallest long haul economy seats never ever again for me 🤔

 

Last time I flew Thai Airways was from Pakistan to Bangkok. They, the cabin crew, moved me to a seat with more leg room. Was very good overall.

5 hours ago, Paul Henry said:

Start by improving the quality of meals! Not much better than no frills airlines food.

Better yet, start by improving the overall quality - service, cleanliness, punctuality and food. Get back to the "smooth as silk" days when Thai was a pleasure to fly on!

Prices have certainly soared, well over 1k return to UK economy 

Hope this means cheaper flights and as another BM said better food.

I cannot take the stress of flying, these days.

IF airlines would put on special flights for people like me, then I would fly.

I like quiet, no children, sartorial uniformity with coats and ties, and even tweed.

To me, it's quite disturbing to look over and see fellow passengers in shorts and flip-flops...

Even shorts I cannot abide.

 

When I used to fly from boarding school to my home, and back....

Everybody looked decent.

Now, they do not.

 

Even when I first flew from LA to Tokyo, in 1971, everybody seemed more civilized.

 

So, bottom line...

You gotta raise the cost of flight by a factor of 10.

Then, give us beds, and a decent lounge.

And, in my view, we need to decrease the total number of passengers per the largest widebody to about 50.

And, increase the number of servants onboard.

 

Make flying civilized, once again.

Then, many more, just like me, will begin to fly again.

 

I always feel tortured from the moment I enter the air port parking lot, outbound, until the moment I exit the parking lot, after reaching my destination.

Why would I subject myself to this?

Better for me to just stay where I am...

And, enjoy life.

 

Who needs the stress?

Who needs the hassle?

Who needs the sitting with people I consider to be, roughly, barbarians?

They have NO IDEA of what the flying experience once was, nor what it should be.

They have no comparative yardstick to help them judge what is not good and what is great.

 

 

How about direct flights from cnx to sea. Otherwise the article is boring.

6 hours ago, sammieuk1 said:

I can tell you from very painful experience that you have to be short and thin to fit into the worlds smallest long haul economy seats never ever again for me 🤔

 

 

Seatguru lists Thai planes at 18"s for economy.

 

Many other airlines are 17".

We just returned from an 8 day family holiday in Perth & it was just OK.

Having travelled this route & to Auckland on many occassions I gotta say that

where I used to give Thai an 8/10 they now get a 5/10.

Reasons, aircraft dirty & old, Food & drink service nothing compared to what it used to be.

Pity as was gold for 15 years but now look for alternatives

7 hours ago, ThreeCardMonte said:

No word of direct LAX-BKK flights.

Or JFK-BKK returning.  

7 hours ago, ThreeCardMonte said:

No word of direct LAX-BKK flights.

 

That's been done to death already. It is STILL as uneconomical and unviable as it was when they stopped doing it. But, if you still have a hankering for sitting in American-branded tin for the whole 17+ hours, I believe United will be servicing Bangkok from the US west coast, via a stopover in Hong Kong.

6 hours ago, LUCKYPHIL3007 said:

Wonder when they will re-introduce Brisbane direct flights again……

 

Why? Is there a large Chinese or Indian community there?

2 hours ago, go4it said:

They should invest in better cabin crew. My last flight on long haul in business class with Thai wasn't a good experience, 90 percent of the time all crew were grumpy and unwilling o serve drinks. That the seats aren't well maintained is a negativ experience on top.

 

I'm still missing the domestic flights with Thai Smile where the crew was really friendly and food much better than with Thai now. BTW that was in premium class.

Please don't blame the crew. I have been on many Thai flights and the crew are always friendly and helpful. Blame the management that I, "assume" pays them terrible wages.

4 hours ago, Sydebolle said:

Two questions:
a) who covered the THB 300+ billion accrued losses from the past
b) where does all the cash come from for the rebirth of the airline

 

Thai Airways restructured financially by converting debt to equity*, a process that raised over 76 billion baht and reduced its debt-to-equity ratio from 12.5 to 2.2, all without imposing principal haircuts on creditors. Key strategic pillars included debt reduction, operational optimization through workforce and fleet rationalization (including the dissolution of Thai Smile), asset sales, and a focus on profitable long-haul routes to restore financial health and allow the airline to exit its rehabilitation plan.

 

* There's loads of money to be made from buying or holding someone else's debt. For example, China is bankrolling America.

How about looking into direct flights from Manchester UK to BKK.

2 minutes ago, cynic1 said:

Please don't blame the crew. I have been on many Thai flights and the crew are always friendly and helpful. Blame the management that I, "assume" pays them terrible wages.

Don't need to pay a decent wage for a smile.

1 hour ago, proton said:

Prices have certainly soared, well over 1k return to UK economy 

 

Yes, that does happen during the EUROPEAN SUMMER HOLIDAYS.

 

Last May, after Easter, a BKK-LHR r/t non-stop was around £680 on Thai (the daytime one). Looks like they'll be back down around 800 quid r/t in October.

2 hours ago, go4it said:

They should invest in better cabin crew. My last flight on long haul in business class with Thai wasn't a good experience, 90 percent of the time all crew were grumpy and unwilling o serve drinks. That the seats aren't well maintained is a negativ experience on top.

When?

 

2 hours ago, go4it said:

I'm still missing the domestic flights with Thai Smile where the crew was really friendly and food much better than with Thai now. BTW that was in premium class.

 

They've upgraded all the A320 interiors since they ditched Thai Smile, more legroom and proper 2+2 Premium seating, not just 3+3 Coach seating with the middle seat blocked that Thai Smile offered. And who cares what or how they get served on a 45-90 minute flight, for goodness sakes?

 

9 minutes ago, BarraMarra said:

Don't need to pay a decent wage for a smile.

You're right. I assume the Thai Smile crew was paid less, and they still managed to smile.
Thai is a now go!

5 minutes ago, NanLaew said:

When?

 

 

They've upgraded all the A320 interiors since they ditched Thai Smile, more legroom and proper 2+2 Premium seating, not just 3+3 Coach seating with the middle seat blocked that Thai Smile offered. And who cares what or how they get served on a 45-90 minute flight, for goodness sakes?

 

When I have to pay premium I expect premium!