It's a timid first step. But a first step nonetheless. With the start of the IATA winter timetable on 31 October, Thai Airways International resumes international flights from Bangkok. A fleet of 21 aircraft dedicated to long-haul services has been reactivated out of the 38 aircraft officially registered. A further 7 aircraft will be reinstated in the first quarter of 2022.
The carrier is expanding its European routes. This is a far cry from the extensive network offered by Thai Airways International before the pandemic. At that time, the carrier offered around ten daily flights to Copenhagen, Frankfurt, London LHR, Milan, Munich, Paris CDG, Stockholm and Zurich. There were also several weekly flights to Barcelona, BrusselsOslo and Vienna.
However, the winter timetable means that the company is returning to Brussels, Milan, Munich, Stockholm and Zurich. While lines already operating on Copenhagen, Frankfurt, London-Heathrow and Paris-CDG will benefit from additional frequencies.
So at Paris-CDG, the carrier will be offering a service to Bangkok via Phuket every Wednesday and Friday. The aircraft will be a Boeing 787-8 taking off at 1.15pm for an arrival in Thailand at 6.45am (9.45am in Bangkok). The on Sunday, Thai Airways International will be offering a non-stop flight between Paris and Bangkok with take-off at 12:30 and landing at 06:00 in the Thai capital. The aircraft will offer a two-class layout with 22 seats in business class and 234 seats in economy class.
The airline is returning to Brussels with two weekly flights. Every Thursday and Saturday, an Airbus A350 will be flying non-stop from the EU's political capital to Bangkok. Take-off is scheduled for 15:30 for arrival in Thailand at 08:00 the following day. The A350-900 offers 32 seats in Royal Silk Class and 289 seats in Economy Class.
Resumption of connections to Asia
Alternatively, there is a daily flights from Frankfurt including four weekly non-stop frequencies to Bangkok. From London-HeathrowThai Airways International also offers a daily frequency including four weekly non-stop flights to Bangkok. Finally, on Zurich, the airline offers three weekly flights to Bangkok, including two via Phuket.
In Bangkok, passengers will find some connections to Asia with daily flights to Hong Kong, Seoul, Singapore, Taipei and Tokyo Narita. As well as 5 to 6 weekly flights to Jakarta, Manila and Osaka-Kansai.
Its subsidiary Thai Smile serves Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur and Rangoon. with several weekly flights. In addition January 1st flights to Colombo, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Kathmandu, Phnom Penh and Vientiane.
In addition, the authorities have announced that they are postponing the opening of the new satellite at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi airport. Dedicated to Thai Airways International aircraft, the satellite will be able to accommodate 15 million additional passengers. It is now due to enter service in October 2022.
