Thai Airways International Flights | September 2021

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International Flights to Europe and within Asia

Domestic flights from Phuket to Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports are set to resume next month, according to the Transport Ministry. The Bangkok Post reports that the flights are being given the green light to facilitate the travel needs of tourists in Phuket as part of the island’s sandbox re-opening scheme. On July 21. 2021 the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand banned commercial domestic flights to the “dark red” provinces, amid a surge in Covid-19 cases. The ban caught tourists and residents on Phuket off-guard, leaving many with no choice but to make the arduous journey by road. The Bangkok Post reports that the CAAT is expected to ease the ban at Bangkok’s 2 airports, in order to help Phuket’s sandbox tourists.

However, arrivals from Phuket who wish to travel to Bangkok or neighbouring provinces will be subject to a mandatory 14-day quarantine first. Those who are flying home from Bangkok will not be permitted to leave the airport, but the maximum transit period has been increased from 12 to 24 hours.

Responding to the CAAT’s decision, Thai Airways has announced it will operate 2 flights a week connecting Bangkok and Phuket until October. TG922 will fly from Bangkok to Phuket every Thursday, while TG916 will depart from Phuket every Friday. It’s understood the flights will be operational from next month.

According to the Bangkok Post report, the carrier is also planning the following international weekly returns:

• Bangkok - Zurich FRI
• Bangkok - Paris THU
• Bangkok - Frankfurt SAT | SUN
• Bangkok - London WED | SUN
• Bangkok - Copenhagen TUE | SAT
• Bangkok - Singapore WED
• Bangkok - Osaka THU | SAT
• Bangkok - Narita TUE | THU | SAT
• Bangkok - Nagoya THU | SUN
• Bangkok - Seoul SUN | THU
• Bangkok - Taipeh WED | FRI
• Bangkok - Jakarta WED
• Phuket - Frankfurt THU
• Phuket - London FRI

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Thai Airways to resume flights to countries with high vaccination rates

Thai Airways says it will start selling seats on flights to highly-vaccinated destinations from October 1. The struggling national carrier expects to resume flights to the UK, France, and Germany, as well as Japan and Australia. The Bangkok Post reports that airline bosses made the decision after several destinations reported vaccination rates of around 70%.

Airline spokesman, Chai Eamsiri, says the carrier also expects to add China to its schedule from next year. He says Thai Airways’ finances have improved following the sale of some assets and offloading investments in the Bangkok Aviation Fuel Services Plc and Nok Air.

According to the Bangkok Post report, Thai Airways is working to reduce up to 53 Billion THB in investment costs by the end of 2022. To date, it has saved 44 billion, largely as a result of over 600 austerity and cost-cutting measures. Cut-backs have been made in the workforce, which has been reduced by 48%, going from 29,500 employees 2 years ago to 15,300 now.

Chai adds that the carrier has also sold or is in the process of selling 42 of its 100-strong fleet, with all sales expected to be complete by the end of this year. Prior to Covid-19, Thai Airways had 12 aircraft types in its fleet and will end up with 5. Of the 6 Airbus A380 aircraft in the Thai Airways fleet, 2 have been put up for sale. The other 4, which are leased, are being returned.