One of the main new developments for Thai Airways International for the 2026-2027 winter season concerns the French market. Can you provide some details?
Arnuphap Kittikul– This winter is very important for Thai Airways International in Europe and France occupies a major place in our programme. The French market to Thailand is holding up well against the economic climate in the current geopolitical context, as it is growing slightly with nearly 568,000 visitors between January and August 2026.
From 1st December, we will therefore be moving to two daily flights between Paris and Bangkok. This will offer much more flexibility to passengers. In particular, we will have an afternoon frequency and another in the evening, allowing travellers to choose the schedule that best suits their needs. The new service will be operated by a Boeing 787, while the Boeing 777 will continue to operate the first frequency. Both aircraft feature our new onboard product, notably including a Business Class seat that converts entirely into a bed and an Economy Class offering an improved level of recline.
Europe remains our leading region in terms of revenue contribution, accounting for approximately 30% of our total earnings. The French market is therefore very much part of this European development strategy.
Can French business travellers count on a Premium Economy class in the near future?
Arnuphap Kittikul– We haven't purchased any aircraft equipped with a Premium Economy cabin. But we are considering introducing this class on our future aircraft in the coming years.
What other frequency increases are planned in Europe?
Arnuphap Kittikul– We are indeed strengthening our position in several other key markets. On Munich-Bangkok, we will move to three flights a week from 16 December, bringing the schedule to 10 weekly flights. Meanwhile, on Zurich, we will increase our schedule from 16 January. We will add four flights to the current seven weekly frequencies, bringing the total to 11 flights a week.
How is the new route to Amsterdam performing?
Arnuphap Kittikul– It has been doing well since its launch this summer. Amsterdam is a strategic destination for Thai Airways International, particularly because it is extremely difficult to obtain slots at Schiphol. Our current schedule is not ideal, however. The departure from Bangkok is scheduled for 5:30 in the morning, which presents a real challenge for passengers. Unfortunately, we had to accept this slot in order to establish our presence in Amsterdam. If we operate this route for about six months, we will then be able to discuss with the airport the possibility of obtaining a more favourable schedule.
Is Thai Airways considering new destinations in Europe?
Arnuphap Kittikul– Yes. In particular, we are looking for destinations where competition is lower. Madrid, for example, is an attractive destination due to its large population and strategic position in southern Europe.
Moreover, we had already served Madrid before the Covid-19 pandemic and this destination remains one of our priorities. In Asia, we are strengthening our presence in Vietnam with the launch of flights to Danang. We are also looking into serving Okinawa in Japan.
Do Thailand's new, more restrictive visa policy and severely strained relations between Thailand and Cambodia weigh on European demand?
Arnuphap Kittikul In the first case, we are not seeing any drop in passenger numbers related to visa policy. For us, the main challenge is rather the trend in prices. Hotel rates in Phuket are rising and the cost of living in Bangkok is also going up, which can have an impact on travellers' budgets. The surcharge linked to the increase in fuel prices is also putting heavy pressure on our rates, as fuel accounts for around 40% of our operating costs. Nevertheless, we are trying to keep all-inclusive prices as reasonable as possible for our passengers.
Regarding the political situation between Thailand and Cambodia, we are indeed seeing a slight drop in demand, which is regrettable as it is linked to the political situation. However, we retain a loyal customer base that continues to use our network to travel to Cambodia via Bangkok. But this situation is beyond our control and we hope it can be resolved quickly.
