Aviation News
Stay updated with the latest aviation news at The Thaiger, your ultimate source for industry information. Keep informed on airline updates, airport developments, and travel trends across the globe.
Our comprehensive coverage ensures you’re always in the loop, with up-to-date articles and expert insights. Whether you’re a frequent flyer, aviation enthusiast, or industry professional, The Thaiger’s aviation news page is your essential guide to navigating the ever-evolving world of air travel. Immerse yourself in the dynamic community and latest advancements with our expertly curated content, designed to keep you connected and well-informed.
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Sponsored How one hospital visit in Thailand could cost more than your whole trip
Thailand is a favourite spot for travellers who want to enjoy more while spending less. From cheap street food to low-cost hotels and fun attractions, it’s easy to stretch your budget here. But there’s one thing many people don’t think...
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High-flying headache: Aviation industry faces pilot pinch, needs 650,000 in 20 years
The aviation industry is currently grappling with a global pilot shortage, with an estimated 650,000 pilots required over the next two decades, as per data from the Emirates Flight Training Academy (EFTA). The dearth of pilots is attributed to a scarcity of flight instructors worldwide, said Abdulla Al Hammadi, EFTA’S vice president. The industry is highly competitive, with airlines recruiting…
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Forked-up flight: Aussie passenger’s shocking Bangkok to Moscow attack with a twist (video)
A man described as ‘Australian’ found himself in a harrowing situation when he allegedly attacked a fellow passenger on a flight from Bangkok to Moscow. Alexey Fursov reportedly stabbed the passenger with a fork, causing injuries to the victim’s chest, shoulder, and back during what has been described as a frenzied attack. Dramatic footage from the flight shows the 35…
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Airline employee accused of molesting teen at Suvarnabhumi Airport
A male airline employee from a famous airline tricked a 15 year old boy into a bathroom at Suvarnabhumi International Airport before the victim’s mother learned of the incident and filed a complaint. The police are urgently pursuing the suspect to take legal action. At 12.30pm today, a reporter was informed about an incident involving a male employee from a…
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Chiang Mai airport’s 24/7 operation boosts hopes for tourism rebound
The tourism sector is gearing up for an influx of foreign visitors as Chiang Mai Airport prepares to operate round-the-clock from November. This move is expected to open up the northern region to more international tourists arriving on direct flights. Sittipong Wongsomboon, general manager of Northern Smile Travel, stated that the average hotel occupancy rate for September had dipped to…
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THAI’S high-flying ambition: Soaring to new heights in tourist traffic
Thai Airways International (THAI) unveiled an ambitious plan to expand its international flight offerings in the forthcoming high season. The airline’s primary focus is to draw in a higher number of tourists. A notable feature of this expansion is the airline’s decision to recommence flights to Istanbul, Turkey, which is a significant aviation hub for Asia, Europe, and Africa. This…
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Taking flight: AOT’s 70-billion baht plan for new airport in Phang Nga takes off
Airports of Thailand (AoT) is progressing with a 70 billion baht plan to construct an airport in Phang Nga, located north of Phuket, to cater to the growing tourist influx to the Andaman region. This information was shared by AoT President Keerati Kitmanawat, as he responded to Prime Minister Srettha Thavisiin’s recent visit to Chiang Mai to deliberate on the…
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Nok Airlines stocks nosedive as SET delisting threat soars
Low-cost carrier Nok Airlines stands on the brink of being delisted from the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET). This possibility stems from the airline’s failure to improve its financial performance and submit its 2022 financial results within a given timeframe, as stated by the Thai bourse. The SET identified Nok Airlines as a potential candidate for delisting, given that the company’s…
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Chiang Mai Airport’s 24 hours upgrade takes off to meet ‘soaring’ Chinese demand
The Airports of Thailand (AOT) is preparing to take flight as Chiang Mai International Airport gears up for 24/7 operations starting November 1, all in response to the soaring demand from Chinese visitors. The Prime Minister’s Office spokesperson, Chai Watcharong, said today that the PM and Finance Minister, Srrettha Thavisin, wants to extend Chiang Mai Airport’s operating hours, from the…
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Chiang Mai Airport plans massive expansion to accommodate 16.5 million travellers
Chiang Mai Airport is set to table its expansion proposal to Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin during his scheduled visit this weekend. The airport’s director, Wijit Kaewsaitiam, revealed that the Thai Cement Manufacturers Association (TCMA) is set to spearhead the construction of the terminal’s first phase. The extension plan is aimed at significantly increasing the airport’s capacity, allowing it to accommodate…
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Multilingual airport security officer provides vital passenger assistance at Suvarnabhumi Airport
An airport security officer at Suvarnabhumi Airport, who has the impressive ability to speak five languages, has come to the public’s attention. The officer, Yanaphop Boonthem, speaks Thai, Japanese, Chinese, English, and Korean. Despite his primary role being airport security, the 55 year old’s multilingual skills have proven to be extremely valuable in guiding and assisting passengers with airport services.…
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Singapore Airlines’ hot seat: Passengers fume over 8-hour ‘sauna’ delay (video)
Singapore Airlines apologised to furious passengers for keeping them onboard for eight hours in suffocating “sauna” conditions as the air conditioning was turned off as they tried to fix a technical problem on a flight bound for Singapore from Shanghai. The apology to disgruntled travellers is all too familiar for many international fliers who have grown weary of perpetual disingenuous…
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THAI spreads its wings: More flights to China as visa policy takes off
After a discussion with the Thai Prime Minister and Finance Minister, Srettha Thavisin, Thai Airways (THAI) is planning to increase its flights to China from 25 flights to 35 flights a week in response to the free visa policy for Chinese tourists. Srettha announced after the meeting with the Association of Domestic Travel (ADT) that the government planned to extend…
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Suvarnabhumi Airport’s SAT-1 terminal to soft-launch boosting capacity by 33%
Suvarnabhumi International Airport, governed by Airports of Thailand (AoT), is set to soft-launch its Satellite 1 (SAT-1) terminal on September 28, following a successful full-scale trial involving 180 mock passengers and their luggage. The trial aimed to evaluate operations at both the SAT-1 satellite passenger terminal and the primary terminal, with Thai Airways offering assistance by supplying cabin crew and…
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Ticket turbulence: Thai airlines aim to price things right amid rising costs
Thai airlines plan to explain the accusations of raising ticket prices amid higher jet fuel costs. The Airlines Association of Thailand (AAT) announced it will host a seminar to clarify airfare structures and CAAT price regulations following consumer complaints. Nok Air CEO Wutthiphum Jurangkool stated that price increases mainly occurred during extended holidays due to high demand, impacting last-minute bookings.…
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Phuket Airport expansion to double capacity, costing 6 billion baht
Phuket International Airport is set to undergo a significant expansion, as approved by the Airports of Thailand (AoT). The project, which is currently in the design stage, is estimated to have a price of upwards of 6 billion baht. AoT’s President, Kerati Kijmanawat, highlighted the expansion as a primary agenda during Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin’s recent visit. The proposed airport…
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Thai Airways takes off in new direction with operational shake-up
Thai Airways International (THAI) Public Company Limited today announced several operational changes. THAI will use Airbus A320 aircraft for routes formerly managed by THAI Smile Airways: Ahmedabad, Kaohsiung, and Penang. The A320s will also fly to Kolkata, a route currently operated by THAI. Changes begin on September 1 for Ahmedabad and October 15 for Kolkata. The detailed flight schedule is…
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Plea for flight: Provincial governor urges reconsideration after Thai Smile route closure
Thai Smile’s decision to discontinue flights from Suvarnabhumi International Airport to Surat Thani Airport, beginning October 1, has led provincial governor, Witchawut Jinto, to appeal for a reversal. Jinto submitted a formal letter to Thai Smile, an affiliate of Thai Airways, requesting the continuation of the Suvarnabhumi-Surat Thani route. The governor expressed public discontent over Thai Smile’s plans, which are…
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Thai AirAsia targets 40% domestic market share by 2023, plans Japan expansion
Thai AirAsia, a leading low-cost airline, has set a goal to command 40% of the passenger market share domestically by the close of 2023. This comes as the airline intends to introduce two additional routes in Japan in the upcoming year. In a revealing disclosure, Santisuk Klongchaiya, the Chief Executive of Thai AirAsia, mentioned that the airline’s market share in…
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UPDATE: Thai passengers ejected from flight over fight with cabin crew over luggage
An update to the original story about a woman from a group complaining on social media to criticise the air hostess and cabin crew for refusing to help her carry the luggage. Prominent YouTuber and influencer, Akaradej Yothajun, known as Benz Apache, recently recounted the same dramatic incident aboard a flight from Vietnam to Thailand. He reported that 16 Thai…
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Runway cracks resolved: Phuket Airport gets back on smooth flight path
Airports of Thailand’s Phuket branch, responsible for managing Phuket International Airport, confirmed yesterday, that the runway cracks which led to multiple flight delays and one diversion to Krabi have been addressed and rectified. The announcement was initially made via state-run Radio Thailand Phuket last night. It was also announced by the National News Bureau of Thailand’s national platform but it…
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Sacred wings: Thai Airways welcomes 2 new A350 models for modern travel
Thai International Airways (THAI) boosted its fleet with two newly blessed Airbus A350-900 aircraft designed for the modern traveller. The up-to-date design boasts private video touch screens on every seat. The Reverend Maha Ratchamongkol Muni, the assistant abbot of Wat Traimit Wittayaram, yesterday, August 9, presided over a blessing ceremony. These two latest additions to the portfolio of Thai Airways…
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Smooth skies ahead: THAI-turkish partnership signals global travel upswing
A monumental leap forward for international air travel took flight yesterday when Thai Airways International (THAI) and Turkish Airlines secured a memorandum of understanding. The anticipated partnership will focus on the cut-throat competition prevalent on Asia-Europe routes. Commonly, airline collaborations entail synchronising schedules and revenue sharing. For instance, Qantas Airways and Emirates have a working partnership on Europe-Australia services. However,…
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Hua Hin Airport upgrade to attract tourists and boost Thai economy
In a move poised to encourage tourism, Hua Hin Airport, operated by the Department of Airports (DoA), is set for a vast upgrade that will escalate it to international status, as confirmed by acting director Rattapol Charoenphon recently. The Hua Hin Airport has already made significant strides towards this goal, extending its runway to reach a length of 2.1 kilometres…
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Sky’s the limit: Krabi Airport’s expansion set to soar by 2025
The redevelopment of Krabi International Airport, expected to amplify its passenger capacity to 8 million annually, is slated for completion by late 2024 with the new infrastructure being operational by 2025, according to an announcement from the Department of Airports. The scheme encompasses the addition of a third passenger terminal and enhancements to the existing two terminals and car park…
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Thai Smile Airways’ turbulent tiff: Passenger’s ‘left-behind’ fiasco halts takeoff in Chiang Mai (video)
A Thai Smile Airways flight had to make an emergency stop as it taxied down the runway after a foreign passenger demanded the plane returned to the terminal gate so he could pick up his left behind valuables at Chiang Mai International Airport. A Thai TikTok user, bandzlam, shared a video of the incident when a foreign man urged a…
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Delta Airlines passengers endure 44°C heat for 4 hours on Las Vegas runway
On a Delta Airlines flight from Las Vegas to Atlanta, passengers were forced to wait for four hours on the tarmac in searing temperatures of up to 44°C, further exacerbated by non-functioning air conditioning. This resulted in several passengers, including air hostesses, fainting and needing immediate medical attention. A foreign media outlet reports that this extreme situation was due to…
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Andaman provinces appeal to continue Phang-nga Airport study amid fears of overcrowding
The Joint Public and Private Sector Consultative Committee (JPPSCC) spanning the Andaman provinces appealed to Airports of Thailand (AoT) to ensure the continuation of its feasibility study on the proposed Phang-nga Airport. Previously, a discussion between the JPPSCC across the provinces of Krabi, Trang, Phang-nga, Phuket, Ranong, Satun, and Phuket Airport took place concerning the same issue. As a result…
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EasyJet offloads 19 passengers to tackle weighty situation, 19,000 baht compensation offered
The EasyJet airline delayed a flight for two hours asking 19 passengers to disembark, citing excessive aircraft weight, according to the Daily Mail website. The aircraft was travelling from Lanzarote, Spain, to Liverpool, England. The flight was originally slated to leave the airport at 9.45pm, but poor weather conditions meant that several hours passed without the plane taking off. Some…
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Air collision leads to 2 pilots’ deaths in Columbia
An air incident occurred in Colombia where two training aircraft of the Colombian Air Force collided mid-air, leading to a tragic end. One of the planes crashed to the ground on July 1, resulting in two pilots losing their lives. The event, believed to be part of a practice session for an upcoming Aeronautical Fair, was caught on a video that…
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Bird collision delays Thai Vietjet flight, 159 passengers affected at Khon Kaen Airport
A Thai Vietjet flight at Khon Kaen International Airport was disrupted after a bird collided with the aircraft’s engine, causing delays for 159 passengers. The incident occurred while the plane was parked, awaiting passengers for the VZ215 service from Khon Kaen to Suvarnabhumi Airport. The bird, reportedly an owl, struck the right engine of the parked aircraft at around 7.35pm,…
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