Thailand

Thai Airways International Public Company Limited (THAI) reported its operating results for Q1 2026: • Net profit of 10.107 billion THB, +2.7% YoY • Net profit attributable to owners of the parent was 10.093 billion THB, representing earnings per share of 0.36 THB, up from 0.35 THB in Q1 2025 • EBITDA reached 17.548 billion THB, +4.9% YoY • Total revenue, excluding one-off items, stood at 51.029 billion THB, -1.2% YoY, mainly due to a decline in transport services revenue, in line with a 3.5% decline in capacity and passenger traffic, with total passenger numbers at 4.18 million • Total expenses, excluding one-off items, stood at 37.282 billion THB, -1.8% YoY, partly attributed to a 10.7% fall in fuel costs • Finance costs fell by 14.2% YoY due to the conversion of aircraft contracts from leases to purchases for Boeing 777-300ER and Airbus A320-200 aircraft • Net income from one-off items stood at 1.088 billion THB, mainly due to a gain of 1.435 billion THB from aircraft lease cancellations, due to the change from lease to purchase contracts, and a gain of 649 million THB from derivative instrument valuation • THAI sold unused aircraft comprising one Airbus A380-800 and one Boeing 777-200 to improve the efficiency of its fleet structure • European routes revenue grew 2.8% to 16.082 billion THB, benefitting from the Middle East situation, with cabin factor reaching 90.5% • Australian routes revenue grew 1.7% YoY due to increased connecting travel from Europe • Asian routes revenue fell 6.l2% due to intense competition and reduced frequency and cancellation of some routes • Domestic routes revenue fell 2.2% to 2.143 billion THB following seat reconfiguration on Airbus A320-200 aircraft to add business class

Bangkok Airways reported its operating results for Q1 2026: • Net profit of 2.1 billion THB, 24.5% YoY, mainly supported by tighter cost controls and lower operating expenses • Total revenue of 7.9 billion THB, with ticket sales accounting for 68.6% of the total, while airport-related businesses contributed 20.8% • Operating profit of 2.59 billion THB, +10.4% YoY • Total expenses fell 6.2%, supported by reduced fuel consumption and lower aircraft leasing costs • The airline carried around 1.2 million passengers, -5.2% YoY • Passenger load factor rose 4.7 percentage points to 86.2% • Average ticket prices remained relatively stable at around 4,469 THB • The airline reduced passenger capacity by 11.8% after cutting flights on the Bangkok-Phnom Penh route and discontinuing Bangkok-Lampang and Lampang-Mae Hong Son routes in 2025

Asia Aviation Public Company Limited (AAV), the majority shareholder of Thai AirAsia (TAA) reported its operating results for Q1 2026: • Total revenue from sales and service reached 13.529.8 million THB, +2% YoY • The airline carried 6.2 million passengers, +11% YoY, offsetting a 6% normalisation in average fare • Cost per Available Seat Kilometre (CASK) stood at 1.69 THB, -2% YoY • Average aircraft utilisation was 12.5 hours per day across its operating fleet of 58 aircraft • EBITDA stood at 3,733.9 million THB, representing a 29% margin • Core profit stood at 1,651.7 million THB, but a non-cash foreign exchange loss of 1,013.8 million THB caused by currency volatility caused net profit to moderate to 840.6 million THB • Overall load factor stood at 88%, with the domestic market seeing a 89% load factor and international market 85% • The airline captured the highest domestic market share at 42%

The Deputy Transport Minister has introduced a seven-point policy framework aimed at transforming airspace management and positioning Thailand as an international-level aviation hub. Aeronautical Radio of Thailand Ltd (Aerothai) would lead efforts to modernise airspace management. Aerothai has been ordered to cut air navigation service charges for domestic flights by 30%. Airlines will be granted extended credit terms for May-Jun, allowing them to pay 50% on schedule while deferring the balance by 30 days to ease liquidity pressures. The seven-point framework includes cost reduction, improved air traffic flow management, accelerated public spending to stimulate the economy, a continued focus on safety as the top priority, integrating strategies across aviation agencies, enhancing coordination on safety-related data such as meteorology, and fast-tracking infrastructure upgrades using advanced technologies to support future demand, as well as implementing sustainability principles, including environmental, social and governance (ESG) considerations across operations

Biman Bangladesh Airlines will replace its Boeing 777-300ER with 737-800 on 22 and 26 May for its Dhaka-Bangkok flight

Acting Director of the Ubon Ratchathani Airport called on the organisers of Bun Bang Fai rocket festivals to seek permission 7-15 days in advance, in concerns of aviation safety. He said organisers have sought approval for over 1,220 rockets this year, with 166 already launched. Over 4,500 rocket launch requests were submitted in 2025. The annual festival is held in May-Jun in Ubon Ratchathani, Yasothon, Si Sa Ket, and Amnat Charoen

The Deputy PM and Transport Minister met with executives of Airports of Thailand (AOT) to discuss aviation development projects. Expansion projects are being prepared for Suvarnabhumi International Airport, Don Mueang International Airport, and Phuket International Airport. The minister urged AOT to expedite the submission of major airport expansion projects to the Cabinet for approval. AOT President said AOT has already outlined a five-year 80-billion-THB investment plan to support Thailand’s aviation strategy, with most projects already completing feasibility studies and are under review by the Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council. The first project expected to be submitted to the Cabinet is the 12-billion-THB Suvarnabhumi East Expansion development, with bidding expected to open by end-2026 and constructions to start early 2027. The expansion is expected to open in 2030. The Don Mueang Airport Phase 3 Expansion project is also expected to be proposed to the Cabinet in 2026, with a revised budget of around 69 billion THB, up from earlier estimates of around 36 billion THB due to the impacts of the Middle East conflict. The Phuket Airport expansion Phase 2, valued at 10 billion THB, is expected to increase annual passenger handling capacity from 12.5 million to 18 million travellers annually

Airports of Thailand (AOT) said that the international passenger service charge (PSC) hike at its six airports from 20 Jun to 1,120 THB per pax will increase airfares, but it is not expected to influence travel demand. The increase is the largest PSC hike in nearly 20 years

Thai AirAsia has revised its service reduction plan on the Chiang Mai-Taipei Taoyuan-Sapporo New Chitose route, cutting services from 4X weekly to 3X weekly, instead of 2X, from 8 Jun-13 Jul. The planned service reduction from 4X weekly to 2X weekly will now be in effect from 14 Jul-30 Sep

Maldivian will add a seasonal weekly Male-Bangkok Suvarnabhumi service from 12 Jul-2 Aug

Turkish Airlines has expanded its codeshare partnership with Thai Airways International (THAI) to cover THAI’s services to Denpasar (Bali) and Jakarta

The Airlines Association of Thailand called for support from the government due to higher costs. Their proposal to the Transport Ministry included suspending aviation fees for 6 months, extending payment terms for Apr-Sep charges, cutting excise tax on Jet A-1 fuel to 0.2 THB for 6 months. They noted that they maintained Songkran flights despite losses, but that capacity is at 60% of pre-crisis levels

Noppharat Thara Beach, Phi Phi islands National Park has denied viral social media claims that Phi Phi island would have its own international airport, noting that the image posted was AI-generated

Spring Airlines plans to increase Shenzhen-Phuket services to daily by Sep, up from the current 4X weekly flights

The Transport Minister stressed that the government will not amend the concession agreement for a high-speed rail line linking Don Mueang, Suvarnabhumi and U-tapao airports, noting that there is a legal pathway for the developer to back out if it is unable to proceed under the original terms. Charoen Pokphand (CP) Group-led consortium Asia Era One, who was awarded the concession in 2019, has yet to break ground on the project. The consortium previously proposed to change the state subsidy payment structure, seeking phased payments based on construction progress, instead of the original terms requiring full completion within five years before the government repays the subsidy over a 10-year period

Thai AirAsia will reduce services on the Bangkok Don Mueang-Kaohsiung-Tokyo Narita route from 4X to 2X weekly from 1 Jun-30 Sep and on the Chiang Mai-Taipei-Sapporo route from 4X to 2X weekly from 15 Jun-30 Sep

The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT), with the Office of the Consumer Protection Board, have finalised rules to protect air travellers from flight delays and cancellations as airlines grapple with surging fuel costs: • Airlines must inform passengers at least seven days beforehand for international flights cancellations and at least three days before for domestic flights, except for flights affected by unforeseen causes • Affected passengers will receive full refunds, which must take place within 14 days for tickets paid with cash, 45 days for tickets paid with credit cards, and 60 days for tickets bought through online travel agencies • If a traveller chooses a refund in the form of credit, travel voucher, mileage rewards or others, compensation must be made within seven days after the traveller files all necessary documents • For passengers who do not want a refund and still need to travel, airlines must arrange for optional flights by the same or other airlines to their destinations or nearby destinations as soon as possible. Optional flights can be scheduled within the same day or later in accordance with travellers’ decisions • Affected passengers can demand compensation from airlines for consequential damages such as accommodation and related travel expenses

The Metropolitan Waterworks Authority (MWA) and Airports of Thailand (AOT) signed an MoU to upgrade the water supply system at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport

The Thai Travel Agents Association (TTAA) submitted a letter to the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) to request aid for tour companies and travellers affected by abrupt flight cancellations, noting that it impacts travellers as well as incur a cost burden on tour companies without a fair protection mechanism. TTAA Vice-President said that refund measures offered by airlines are insufficient, as tour operators also have to cover losses for other costs like hotels and transport at the destinations

Deputy Transport Minister ordered a thorough follow-up after a bomb threat at Krabi International Airport caused a delay for a Thai AirAsia flight on 26 Apr. The passenger who made the threat claimed the comment was a “joke”, but security protocols required all passengers and baggage to be offloaded for a full inspection. The individual has been taken into custody for prosecution

Vietjet Thailand has launched the “Fly2Ferry” service, combining air and sea travel in a single booking system. The system covers routes from Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi) to three islands in Southern Thailand – Koh Samui, Koh Tao, and Koh Phangan – via Surat Thani Airport and Nakhon Si Thammarat Airport. On arrival at the airport, passengers can use a van transfer to Donsak Pier before travelling via high-speed ferry operated by Lomprayah High Speed Ferries Co., Ltd. to the islands

Thai Airways International will increase fuel surcharges on a number of routes for tickets issued from 1 May onward amid surging jet fuel prices. The affected routes include flights from Bangkok to Yangon, Beijing, Delhi, Seoul, Tokyo (Narita), Sydney, Milan, and London

Thai AirAsia has filed domestic service changes for the 1 May-30 Jun period, focusing operations on Bangkok Don Mueang and cutting Bangkok Suvarnabhumi services from 11 to 2 routes. One-way Bangkok Suvarnabhumi departure during the period will be reduced 66% from 1,664 flights to 571 flights. Suspended routes include Buri Ram, Chiang Rai, Hat Yai, Khon Kaen, Krabi, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Narathiwat, Surat Thani, and Udon Thani. Chiang Rai and Phuket services will be maintained, with flights reduced from 409 to 261 flights and 366 to 310 flights, respectively. Domestic operations at Bangkok Don Mueang will be reduced 22% from 5,593 one-way departures to 4,369

Qatar Airways has revised its A380 operations schedule. The aircraft will be operated twice daily on the Doha-Bangkok Suvarnabhumi route for the 16 Jun-15 Sep period

Etihad will resume the Abu Dhabi-Chiang Mai route from 25 Oct, pushed back from the initial scheduled resumption of 16 Apr. Overall frequency on the route will increase from 4X to 7X weekly

Thai Airways International will increase fuel surcharges on Thailand-Japan flights due to surging and volatile global jet fuel prices. The revised rates are pending approval from aviation regulators and will apply to tickets issued from 1 May. The new surcharges applies on routes from Bangkok Suvarnabhumi to Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka, Fukuoka, and Sapporo, with the fees rising by 90 USD to 170 USD for first class (Royal First) and business class (Royal Silk), and by 85 dollars to 140 USD for economy class

Thai AirAsia will temporarily suspend nine international routes from Don Mueang Airport amid rising jet fuel costs, including to Kathmandu, Denpasar, Singapore, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Ahmedabad, Guwahati, Jaipur, and Lucknow

ITA Airways will increase flight frequency on its direct Rome Fiumicino-Bangkok route from 3X to 5X weekly throughout Aug 2026

Thai AirAsia X will be realigning its operations amid rising fuel costs. The airline will reduce flight frequencies on routes linking Bangkok Don Mueang with Tokyo (NRT), Osaka (KIX), Almaty, and Delhi. It will also temporarily suspend Bangkok Don Mueang-Shanghai (PVG) services from 17 Apr, and Bangkok Don Mueang-Riyadh from 14 Apr-30 Jun

Thai Airways International’s (THAI) Chief Executive assured that the airline is not permanently cancelling any flight routes despite recent reduction and schedule changes affecting over 46 services in May

Vietnam Airlines has closed reservations for the HCMC-Phuket route from 2 Jul-24 Oct, despite schedule filing continuing to show five weekly flights. The route was initially scheduled to launch on 2 Jul at the earliest

Flydubai’s planned daily Bangkok (Don Mueang)-Dubai flights from 1 Jul, will be increased to twice daily from 15 Sep

Thai AirAsia has filed additional service reductions for the Northern Summer 2026 season (29 Mar-24 Oct), cutting flights by 13.4% to 10,043 flights from 11,602 flights on its previous schedule filing on 22 Mar

Flydubai will launch daily Bangkok (Don Mueang)-Dubai flights from 1 Jul, the airline’s second Thai destination after Krabi. The new route will be operated as a codeshare service with Emirates

Deputy Director of the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) said most airlines operating in Thailand has filed reports for adjusted flights schedules for the coming months, with CAAT needing at least a week to assess how aviation in Thailand has been affected by rising jet fuel prices. Initial reports showed a significant reduction in flight numbers from both full-service and low-cost carriers in May-Jun. CAAT is cooperating with relevant stakeholders, such as airports, to help airlines ease operational costs by extending service payment periods from 30 days to 60-90 days, as well as reducing fees to maintain flight numbers and minimise disruption to passengers. Services from Emirates and Etihad to Thailand have returned to around 60% of their normal schedules, while Qatar Airways’ are at 50%. Japan Airlines and ANA have announced increases in jet fuel surcharges for Thailand routes booked in May-Jun – from 3,128 THB to 5,974 THB per flight for JAL and from 3,286 THB to 5,846 THB for ANA

Kasikorn Research Centre reported that over 150,000 international flights have been cut globally between Mar-Jun, compared to pre-conflict schedules. Jet fuel prices have increased by over 129% by early Apr compared with end-2025, reaching $209 USD per barrel. Average airfares on European routes to Thailand rose by around 58% in Apr

Bangkok Airways has filed additional service reductions during the Northern Summer 2026 season, affecting routes including Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi)-Male, Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi)-Phuket, Koh Samui-Krabi, Koh Samui-Phuket, Koh Samui-Singapore, along with previously reported changes on the Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi)-Trat and Utapao-Phuket routes

Thai AirAsia will suspend its Okinawa (Naha)-Hong Kong route as of 6 May until 27 Mar 2027

Thai AirAsia X reportedly changed several Japan-bound flights in May and issued flight cancellations, particularly on the Bangkok (Don Mueang)-Osaka route. Some passengers reported that their flights have been changed without any email or SMS notification, only finding out when checking the AirAsia app

Thai Airways International (THAI) has filed additional changes for its planned May 2026 operations, resulting in a 10.6% flight reductions compared to its previous schedule filing on 22 Mar. Bangkok one-way departure has been reduced from 2,708 flights to 2,422 flights

Thai Vietjet Air has filed additional service changes for Q2 2026, with three routes cancelled on short term basis, namely Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi)-Fukuoka, Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi)-Kolkata, and Phuket-Chiang Rai. On international routes, reductions have also been made on the Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi)-Ahmedabad and Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi)-Phnom Penh routes. On domestic routes, service from 29 Mar-30 Jun has been reduced by 11.2% to 7,080 flights from 7,971 flights on its previous schedule filing on 22 Mar. Flight reductions has been made on routes between Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi) and Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Hat Yai, Krabi, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phuket, and Surat Thani

Thai Vietjet Air has launched its Udon Thani-Wuxi route

Cathay Pacific will reduce flights from Hong Kong to Bangkok and Phuket from 16 May to 30 Jun: Bangkok from 340 weekly flights to 308 flights Phuket to 64 flights (a drop from 14,312 to 13,842 seats)

The Airports of Thailand has launched a new scheme, AOT Slot Plus+ from 29 Mar-24 Oct 2026, which offers airlines incentives for early slot returns and replacement flights