The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) has allocated airport slots to four new airlines for the Winter 2026/2027 schedule, paving the way for additional international services during Thailand’s peak tourism season. The new routes will strengthen air connectivity between Thailand and key markets in Europe, the Middle East and Southeast Asia. Get today's headlines by email The slot allocations were finalised following discussions at the 158th Slot Conference (SC158) of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), held in Bangkok from June 9 to June 11, 2026. The conference focused on revised flight schedules, additional services and new routes for the Winter 2026/2027 operating period. Under the new allocations, Riyadh Air will operate seven weekly return flights between Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and Suvarnabhumi Airport. Virgin Atlantic will launch a new service linking London Heathrow and Phuket with three return flights per week. Additional new services include charter operations by SkyUp Nistru of Moldova on the Chisinau-Sharjah-Phuket route. The flights will operate on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Malaysian carrier AirBorneo has also secured slots for 14 weekly return flights between Kuching and Suvarnabhumi Airport. According to CAAT, airports experiencing strong demand include Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, Phuket, Chiang Mai, Samui and U-Tapao airports. A total of 87 airlines participated in discussions with the regulator regarding passenger and cargo operations from multiple regions worldwide. The Winter 2026/2027 schedule will run from October 25, 2026, to March 27, 2027, coinciding with Thailand’s high tourism season. The additional routes are expected to expand travel options for visitors and support growing demand for international air services. CAAT recently coordinated talks with 87 airlines on winter flight operations and has also introduced tighter rules governing power banks carried by airline passengers. The authority has additionally worked with the aviation sector on enhanced Ebola prevention measures. The Nation reported that the newly approved schedules will now move into the operational planning phase, with airlines preparing services ahead of the start of the winter season. Further adjustments to flight schedules may be made as airlines finalise their seasonal operations. Picture courtesy of The Nation Join the discussion? Already a member? Adapted by ASEAN Now Nation 15 June 2026
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