The Authority of Thailand (TAT) aims to encourage US airlines to operate the first-ever direct flights to Thailand, as it appears unlikely that Thai carriers will introduce these routes following the reopening of flights by regulators next year.
According to the Transport Ministry, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has provided a favorable assessment of Thailand’s aviation safety standards after its recent inspection and is expected to upgrade the country’s status from Category 2 to Category 1. This upgrade would allow airlines to expand their operations to the US.
Thai Airways suspended its direct flights from Bangkok to Los Angeles in 2015, coinciding with the FAA’s downgrade of Thailand, as the route was not profitable.
Siripakorn Cheawsamoot, TAT’s deputy governor for Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and the Americas, stated that Thai Airways would be prioritized for attracting long-haul visitors to the country. However, the airline is still undergoing rehabilitation and needs to optimize aircraft usage on the most profitable routes amidst a global aircraft shortage.
Resuming long-haul flights that take 17 to 18 hours could lower the turnover rate of aircraft, which is not feasible for an airline looking to enhance liquidity, he explained.
The TAT projects that the US market is a high-potential area, expecting to welcome 1 million visitors this year. Siripakorn mentioned that discussions have already taken place with various international airlines about incorporating direct flights to Thailand into their schedules, potentially starting by winter 2025 or 2026.
US airlines have not previously offered direct services between the two nations. However, Air Canada provides seven weekly flights from Vancouver to Bangkok.
Siripakorn indicated that TAT has also engaged with Taiwan’s EVA Air and two US carriers, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines, regarding possible collaboration should these airlines initiate direct flights to Thailand. EVA Air currently operates direct flights from London and Vienna to Bangkok before continuing to its hub in Taipei.
If EVA Air applied a similar model for some of its long-haul flights to the US, it could attract more American tourists to Thailand, especially families seeking a simpler travel experience, added Siripakorn.
He further projected that the US market could grow to over 1.1 million visitors next year. Each traveler from the US typically spends an average of 15 days in Thailand, equivalent to the combined spending of three short-haul tourists, making this market significant.
To further penetrate the US market, the TAT is actively pursuing opportunities and has opened a new office in Chicago to attract travelers from the Midwest, focusing on the “affluent modern agricultural industry,” as well as select regions in Canada.
