Thai Airways could resume direct flights between Bangkok and Auckland earlier than its previously planned 2028 timetable, Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas has said. Thailand's government is now targeting March 2027 for the route's return, although Ekniti said officials would push for an even earlier launch if the airline's fleet is ready. He made the comments on 21 August 2026 while visiting light-aircraft company NZAero at its hangar at Ardmore Airport in Auckland, New Zealand. Government seeks Auckland Airport slots Ekniti said Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul had told New Zealand's prime minister that Thailand intended to launch the Bangkok-Auckland service in March 2027. The direct route was among issues discussed by the Thai and New Zealand leaders, according to Ekniti. The government believes it would make travel easier for business, tourism, trade and people-to-people links between the two countries. The proposed service still depends on Thai Airways having enough aircraft available, particularly under its plans to receive new planes. Ekniti said he had instructed Lavaron Sangsnit, permanent secretary of the Finance Ministry and chairman of Thai Airways International Public Company Limited, to pursue the plan. Preparatory work has already begun, with the permanent secretary asked to contact Auckland Airport's management about allocating and reserving flight slots in advance. Securing arrival and departure times early would allow the airline to begin services smoothly once its fleet is ready, Ekniti said. Possible partnership with Air New Zealand Ekniti also said there was scope for commercial cooperation between Thai Airways and Air New Zealand. Both airlines belong to the Star Alliance network, meaning they could consider a codeshare arrangement to make passenger connections more convenient. New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon previously served as chief executive of Air New Zealand, Ekniti noted, and understands the airline industry's business structure and the potential of routes between Thailand and New Zealand. "We see an opportunity to work together through codeshare rather than viewing this as competition, because it would benefit both sides," Ekniti said. He added that such cooperation could improve links for travel, trade, investment and tourism. Wider links between Thailand and New Zealand An earlier return of direct Bangkok-Auckland flights would support economic cooperation as Thailand and New Zealand seek to deepen relations and open new areas of collaboration, Ekniti said. He identified tourism, agriculture, food, clean energy and investment as areas where the two countries were expanding cooperation. Join the discussion? 23 August 2026
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