After two years in the wilderness, Thai Airways International is introducing a summer timetable more in line with its status as an intercontinental airline. This recovery follows theeasing of entry restrictions to Thailand. The UK is expected to continue to reduce its tax burden (see box).
Nearly 70 destinations between Thai Airways International and Thai Smile
For summer 2022, Thai is offering flights to 34 destinations. Its subsidiary Thai Smile serves 16 destinations in Thailand and 19 regional destinations in addition to its parent company. Thai Smile operates services to six destinations in Indochina (Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Luang Prabang, Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and Vientiane) as well as Mandalay and Yangon in Burma.
The two carriers are offering 69 destinations this summer. This compares with 82 destinations in 31 countries before the pandemic. But this represents a qualitative leap compared with 2021. Last year, Thai Airways served a dozen destinations with one or two weekly flights, while Thai Smile operated only domestic flights.
Among the new features on the intercontinental network, Thai Airways International confirms daily flights on the Paris CDG-Bangkok route as well as an increase in Brussels-Bangkok. From 2 July, the company will be offering three weekly flights from the Belgian capital instead of two.
In the rest of Europe, Thai increases frequencies to Copenhagen, Frankfurt, London Heathrow and Zurich. It also returns to Munich with a daily frequency. The airline also offers a number of direct flights from Phuket to Frankfurt and London throughout the summer season.
The return of the Bangkok hub
On the intercontinental and regional fronts, the company retains a leading position. very light network in Australia with only four weekly flights to Sydney as well as to Melbourne. According to the airline's schedule, Thai does not intend to resume services to Brisbane, Perth or Auckland in New Zealand for the time being.
In Asia, China is still missing, apart from one flight a week to Chongqing with Thai Smile. However, the airline does operate flights to Hong Kong and Macao. In Japan, Thai is once again landing at Tokyo-Narita, Nagoya and Osaka. It will resume daily flights to Tokyo Haneda from 1 July. Seoul and Taipei are once again served daily (Taipei from 1 July).
The carrier is also returning to daily frequencies to several South-East Asian cities.. This is the case for Manila, Singapore (one daily flight, then 11 flights/week from July 1), Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta (daily frequency again from July 1). Thai Smile also serves Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Bali and Penang in parallel.
Finally, to the Indian subcontinent, Thai Airways already flies to 4 Indian cities (Thai Smile to 6 cities). The two carriers also serve Colombo, Dhaka, Kathmandu and Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi in Pakistan. Here too, the company is planning to increase frequencies between May and July.
Compared to summer 2019, are still missing on the Bangkok connections network all routes to mainland China, Busan in Korea, Fukuoka and Sendai in Japan, as well as a large number of flights to Australia. In Europe, Italy, Vienna and Oslo are no longer served.
However, the accelerated reopening of countries around the world should enable Thai Airways to resume all its routes by winter. In a scenario where the pandemic is fully under control and oil prices have stabilised...
Thailand moves to lift all restrictionsThe resumption of Thai Airways flights is based on opening up the kingdom's borders. These measures continue to be relaxed. From On 1st April, travellers to Thailand will no longer have to undergo a PCR test 72 hours before departure. However, a PCR test must be carried out on arrival and the patient must be quarantined for 24 hours in a hotel while awaiting the result. On the 5th day, an antigen self-test will be required, as well as the obligation to register on the covid tracking application. However, there is increasing talk of all rules lifted on 1 June. This time, under pressure from Thailand's neighbours which are making faster progress towards normalising their borders. Cambodia, the Philippines and Vietnam have already reopened unconditionally. Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore will follow on 1 April. Singapore is abolishing its VTLs - travel corridors for vaccinated persons. Thailandtaken by surprise by its neighbours, will probably have to align itself with the other to preserve its tourism business, which accounted for 3T of its GDP before the 2010 crisis... |
