File photo for reference only

 

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) celebrated the arrival of Norse Atlantic Airways' inaugural flight from London Gatwick to Bangkok on October 27. This new seasonal service is anticipated to attract 1.13 million UK visitors by 2025, generating approximately 70.46 billion baht in tourism revenue. It marks a significant step in expanding Thailand's long-haul market appeal.

 

This flight is part of seven new routes from Europe to Thailand for the 2025/26 winter season. TAT’s Director of the Europe Region, Suladda Sarutilavan, highlighted that the route expansion is a result of a focused strategy on enhancing long-haul markets. The service, operating from October 26, 2025, to April 12, 2026, begins with two to three flights weekly, increasing to four to five weekly from December to April, accounting for 99 flights in total with 338 seats each.

 

The UK continues to be a vital long-haul market for Thailand. From January 1 to October 20, 2025, 805,155 Britons visited Thailand, showing a 13.2% year-on-year increase. These visitors, who typically stay for nearly 16 days and spend an average of 63,000 baht per trip, have a high repeat-traveller rate of 86.91%.

 

With these positive trends, TAT predicts over 1.13 million arrivals from the UK by the end of 2025, significantly boosting tourism revenue. Forward bookings reflect strong demand, with a 10% rise for October–December 2025, and a 13% increase for January–March 2026. Thailand’s allure was recently affirmed by Condé Nast Traveller UK’s 2025 Readers’ Choice Awards, where it ranked highly for its luxury hotels, islands, and spa offerings.

 

TAT and Norse Atlantic have initiated a joint marketing campaign from September to November 2025 to enhance visibility through social media, inflight initiatives, and promotions on platforms like Expedia and Skyscanner. Simultaneously, TAT is advocating for responsible tourism by highlighting lesser-known destinations to spread economic benefits and enrich tourist experiences.

 

Key Takeaways

• The new London-Bangkok flight is set to drive long-haul tourism growth.
• UK visitor numbers and revenue are projected to rise significantly by 2025.
• TAT focuses on marketing and sustainable tourism to enhance travel experiences.

 

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  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Nation 2025-10-29

 

 

They also fly twice a week to Stockholm from 1000 SEK.

Will not make any difference to arrival numbers, there's already plenty of flights out of UK cities. 

15 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

This new seasonal service is anticipated to attract 1.13 million UK visitors by 2025, generating approximately 70.46 billion baht in tourism revenue.

 

Good. that mean more news in the pattaya news section.

14 hours ago, WHansen said:

Will not make any difference to arrival numbers, there's already plenty of flights out of UK cities. 

Yes and 99*338 is 33426  (assuming 100% booked) for the whole season.

15 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

File photo for reference only

 

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) celebrated the arrival of Norse Atlantic Airways' inaugural flight from London Gatwick to Bangkok on October 27. This new seasonal service is anticipated to attract 1.13 million UK visitors by 2025, generating approximately 70.46 billion baht in tourism revenue. It marks a significant step in expanding Thailand's long-haul market appeal.

 

This flight is part of seven new routes from Europe to Thailand for the 2025/26 winter season. TAT’s Director of the Europe Region, Suladda Sarutilavan, highlighted that the route expansion is a result of a focused strategy on enhancing long-haul markets. The service, operating from October 26, 2025, to April 12, 2026, begins with two to three flights weekly, increasing to four to five weekly from December to April, accounting for 99 flights in total with 338 seats each.

 

The UK continues to be a vital long-haul market for Thailand. From January 1 to October 20, 2025, 805,155 Britons visited Thailand, showing a 13.2% year-on-year increase. These visitors, who typically stay for nearly 16 days and spend an average of 63,000 baht per trip, have a high repeat-traveller rate of 86.91%.

 

With these positive trends, TAT predicts over 1.13 million arrivals from the UK by the end of 2025, significantly boosting tourism revenue. Forward bookings reflect strong demand, with a 10% rise for October–December 2025, and a 13% increase for January–March 2026. Thailand’s allure was recently affirmed by Condé Nast Traveller UK’s 2025 Readers’ Choice Awards, where it ranked highly for its luxury hotels, islands, and spa offerings.

 

TAT and Norse Atlantic have initiated a joint marketing campaign from September to November 2025 to enhance visibility through social media, inflight initiatives, and promotions on platforms like Expedia and Skyscanner. Simultaneously, TAT is advocating for responsible tourism by highlighting lesser-known destinations to spread economic benefits and enrich tourist experiences.

 

Key Takeaways

• The new London-Bangkok flight is set to drive long-haul tourism growth.
• UK visitor numbers and revenue are projected to rise significantly by 2025.
• TAT focuses on marketing and sustainable tourism to enhance travel experiences.

 

Related Stories

Thailand Anticipates Tourist Surge from the US in 2026

Thailand Welcomes 255 Airlines for Winter 2025 Season

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Nation 2025-10-29

 

 

Not so good news indeed

    Bad writing.  The new service by Norse certainly will not attract 1.13 million UK tourists by 2025, especially since service is just beginning and it's nearly November.   In reality, Thailand hopes to have 1.13 million UK tourists visit in 2025, with some of them, but not 1.13 million,  flying the new Norse limited service of 4 flights a week.  

The UK is broke people are struggling to pay for basic goods holidays are bottom of the list 

Expect less Brits given the state of the FX rate.

Just checked the price!

Seems very reasonable for Nov/Dec

 

👍

Read the reviews of this airline before spending your money booking 

4 hours ago, newnative said:

    Bad writing.  The new service by Norse certainly will not attract 1.13 million UK tourists by 2025, especially since service is just beginning and it's nearly November.   In reality, Thailand hopes to have 1.13 million UK tourists visit in 2025, with some of them, but not 1.13 million,  flying the new Norse limited service of 4 flights a week.  

Just stumbled upon other numbers.

Emirates A380 yearly

Dubai - London 2190 flights per direction, 1.08 million seats

Dubai - Bangkok 1490 flights per direction

Seats were not mentioned.

Simple math: 1490/2190*1.08 mio ~ 730 thousand seats.

2 hours ago, cowellandrew said:

Just checked the price!

Seems very reasonable for Nov/Dec

 

👍

Then add baggage, want a seat, want a meal, want to pay with credit card, ...

Guess they have the same decoy tricks like other low cost carriers?

Seat pitch 31 inch. Are you over 1.60 m (5' 3") ?

Premium economy is for grown up people (43 inch).

2 hours ago, KhunBENQ said:

Then add baggage, want a seat, want a meal, want to pay with credit card, ...

Guess they have the same decoy tricks like other low cost carriers?

Seat pitch 31 inch. Are you over 1.60 m (5' 3") ?

Premium economy is for grown up people (43 inch).

 

Yep. I just checked the same dates I fly with Emirates in early December....20% more expensive than Emirates when you add seat selection, checked luggage, a meal.

 

To be fair, I booked Emirates a couple of months ago, so maybe better prices if booking further ahead with Norse

I'll stick with Emirates, thank you very much 

After Rachel from accounts budget next month ,most of the UK will be on the poverty line and won't be travelling anywhere 

3 hours ago, Easterneye said:

Read the reviews of this airline before spending your money booking 

Absolutely!! 

Initially I was interested especially as they fly from Gatwick which suits me.

Then I searched for the reviews, including Trustpilot

 

I think not 🙁

6 hours ago, crazykopite said:

The UK is broke people are struggling to pay for basic goods holidays are bottom of the list 

Really??? Speaking for yourself then. 

On 10/29/2025 at 9:42 AM, snoop1130 said:

File photo for reference only

 

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) celebrated the arrival of Norse Atlantic Airways' inaugural flight from London Gatwick to Bangkok on October 27. This new seasonal service is anticipated to attract 1.13 million UK visitors by 2025, generating approximately 70.46 billion baht in tourism revenue. It marks a significant step in expanding Thailand's long-haul market appeal.

 

This flight is part of seven new routes from Europe to Thailand for the 2025/26 winter season. TAT’s Director of the Europe Region, Suladda Sarutilavan, highlighted that the route expansion is a result of a focused strategy on enhancing long-haul markets. The service, operating from October 26, 2025, to April 12, 2026, begins with two to three flights weekly, increasing to four to five weekly from December to April, accounting for 99 flights in total with 338 seats each.

 

The UK continues to be a vital long-haul market for Thailand. From January 1 to October 20, 2025, 805,155 Britons visited Thailand, showing a 13.2% year-on-year increase. These visitors, who typically stay for nearly 16 days and spend an average of 63,000 baht per trip, have a high repeat-traveller rate of 86.91%.

 

With these positive trends, TAT predicts over 1.13 million arrivals from the UK by the end of 2025, significantly boosting tourism revenue. Forward bookings reflect strong demand, with a 10% rise for October–December 2025, and a 13% increase for January–March 2026. Thailand’s allure was recently affirmed by Condé Nast Traveller UK’s 2025 Readers’ Choice Awards, where it ranked highly for its luxury hotels, islands, and spa offerings.

 

TAT and Norse Atlantic have initiated a joint marketing campaign from September to November 2025 to enhance visibility through social media, inflight initiatives, and promotions on platforms like Expedia and Skyscanner. Simultaneously, TAT is advocating for responsible tourism by highlighting lesser-known destinations to spread economic benefits and enrich tourist experiences.

 

Key Takeaways

• The new London-Bangkok flight is set to drive long-haul tourism growth.
• UK visitor numbers and revenue are projected to rise significantly by 2025.
• TAT focuses on marketing and sustainable tourism to enhance travel experiences.

 

Related Stories

Thailand Anticipates Tourist Surge from the US in 2026

Thailand Welcomes 255 Airlines for Winter 2025 Season

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Nation 2025-10-29

 

 

Gatwick!!!!!! Ehhhhh no thank you. 😤

On 10/29/2025 at 4:42 PM, snoop1130 said:

With these positive trends, TAT predicts

 

the usual TAT predictions/expectations that never materialize but doing the calculations keeps them busy

7 hours ago, crazykopite said:

The UK is broke people are struggling to pay for basic goods holidays are bottom of the list 

I keep hearing this for years. Every time I fly to Thailand with EVA (which I do several times a year over the last 20 years), the flights are full up, and there's plenty of UK passengers in all cabin classes. And just flown to Europe twice this summer from UK - ditto. For people who can't pay for basic goods that's a surprise..... And yeah, I split my time between UK and Thailand, and travel to other countries too, so I do see what's going on there in person, not just what I read in the media. 

 

As for you...I see you posting stuff regularly on the Daily Mail comments. Recently I recall you said no-one from the UK should be allowed overseas in a response to a story about rowdy behaviour on planes (which I agree is obnoxious, yet your comments slag everyone off from the UK). Hard to take you seriously when you post garbage like that tbh....

 

Yes, the UK govt is broke due to various reasons (but you could apply that to most Western govts), there are currently lots of social issues around immigration etc and the govt is (rightly) far from popular. But, there's plenty of money in the UK still....average earnings rose 4.8% last year and higher amounts in previous years. Unemployment is lower than most other European countries. Real wages are down compared to 20 years ago but people are hardly queueing in the cold outside food banks 😄. You need to take your blinkers off. 

flys to London Gatwick

Norse is the long haul Ryan Air, and use them only if not other good option, and at least half the price with checked luggage and food, or no other good options. 

11 hours ago, watchcat said:

.....generating approximately 70.46 billion baht in tourism revenue.

Excellent.

We don't want any vague guesses.

21 hours ago, Reddavy said:

Gatwick!!!!!! Ehhhhh no thank you. 😤

For many of us north of London, Gatwick is by far the best option.

If I remember right, BA put on a flight from Gatwick last winter.

"inaugural flight from London Gatwick to Bangkok on October 27. This new seasonal service is anticipated to attract 1.13 million UK visitors by 2025"

 

Sure 1.13 million people in 9 weeks.

40 minutes ago, sandyf said:

For many of us north of London, Gatwick is by far the best option.

If I remember right, BA put on a flight from Gatwick last winter.

BA only fly from Gatwick now. Ever since they reopened the BKK route it's been from Gatwick. 

Shame because Heathrow T5 was a much better experience. 

18 minutes ago, CG1 Blue said:

BA only fly from Gatwick now. Ever since they reopened the BKK route it's been from Gatwick. 

Shame because Heathrow T5 was a much better experience. 

Does rather depend on your location.

I live 20 minutes drive from LGW.

I find it less frenetic than LHR and for me, the taxi is half the price I'd pay to LHR.

 

YMMV of course.

23 hours ago, Reddavy said:

On 10/30/2025 at 3:20 AM, crazykopite said:

The UK is broke people are struggling to pay for basic goods holidays are bottom of the list 

Really??? Speaking for yourself then. 

People on this forum are probably not included in what @crazykopite said although I cannot disagree that many are.

A mate found a flight (albeit on XMas day to Manchester) for £100!

While I disagree with wasting money on business class, I personally think its worth paying a few quid more for a 'proper' airline that offers food, luggage, booze, and lands at a convenient gate/terminal.

BTW my 'mate' is as tight as a duck's arse!