Aviation News
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Passenger fee hike set for Thailand’s international flights from Feb 2026
Thailand’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAAT) will raise the passenger service fee for all inbound and outbound flights to 25 baht per person, effective February 1, 2026. The increase from the current 15 baht is aimed at stabilising the agency’s finances, which have been running at a deficit for years. Air Chief Marshal Manat Chavanaprayoon, Director-General of CAAT, said the fee…
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AOT to hike airport tax in 2026, eyes 10 billion baht revenue boost
Passengers flying internationally from Thailand will soon face higher airport taxes, after the Civil Aviation Board approved a 53% hike in the Passenger Service Charge (PSC) at six major airports. Transport Minister Pipat Ratchakitprakarn, who chaired the board’s meeting yesterday, December 3, confirmed the PSC for international departures will rise from 730 baht to 1,120 baht per person. The increase…
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Air France launches direct Paris to Phuket flights
Air France has launched a new direct route from Paris to Phuket, with its first flight arriving at Phuket International Airport yesterday morning, November 28, marking the return of seasonal service between France and Thailand’s southern tourist hub. Flight AF156, operated by a Boeing 777-200, landed at 9.25am after departing Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport the previous evening. The route…
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Vietjet Thailand lands first Boeing 737 to boost Asia routes
Vietjet Thailand has received its first Boeing 737-8 in Bangkok, marking the start of a major fleet expansion to meet growing demand across Asia. This marks a major leap in the airline’s ambitious US$32 billion (1.15 trillion baht) fleet expansion programme across the Asia–Pacific region. The aircraft was delivered on November 22 at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi International Airport and is the…
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Cathay Pacific sees Thailand rebound after rocky first half
Cathay Pacific confirmed it is seeing a strong rebound in Thailand route performance, after earlier struggles caused by safety concerns and political instability. Hong Kong’s flagship carrier confirmed that its Thailand routes are bouncing back in the second half of the year, following earlier setbacks tied to safety concerns and political instability. Despite a soft performance earlier in 2025, the…
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Key flight routes cancelled in Thailand, including at Suvarnabhumi
Several flights were cancelled at major Thai airports, including Suvarnabhumi, causing travel disruption for passengers on domestic and international routes. Travellers across Thailand have been hit by a wave of unexpected flight cancellations, causing widespread disruption at Udon Thani, Phuket, and Suvarnabhumi airports. The cancellations, affecting both domestic and international routes, have left passengers scrambling for alternative arrangements. At Udon…
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Court grounds order allowing foreign pilots on Thai routes
Thailand’s Administrative Court has revoked a Labour Ministry order that allowed foreign pilots to fly domestic routes, ruling it an unlawful exemption. The court decision, handed down yesterday, November 17, annuls a ministerial announcement issued last year that temporarily authorised foreign pilots to operate within the country under a wet-lease arrangement. The ruling comes after the Thai Pilots Association and…
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Cambodia denies fake claims of Thai flight suspension
Cambodia’s civil aviation authority has denied social media rumours that Thailand will suspend flights, confirming no official notice has been received. Cambodian officials said there is no truth to viral claims that flights between Thailand and Cambodia will be suspended later this month. Sin ChanSerey Vutha, Secretary of State and Spokesperson for Cambodia’s Civil Aviation, issued a firm denial after…
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Thai Airways recycles Virgin lie-flats as posh economy beds
Thai Airways has launched lie-flat seats as a premium economy option on select regional routes, repurposing business class seats from Virgin Atlantic. The unusual move offers passengers lie-flat comfort without the business-class price tag, advancing the growing trend of “unbundled” premium travel. The new class has debuted on routes from Bangkok to Chennai, Dhaka, Hyderabad, Jakarta, and Kathmandu. Rather than…
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UK mum’s Thailand trip ruined over son’s passport sticker mark
A British mum claims her family was barred from flying to Thailand after airline staff said a faint sticker mark had damaged her son’s passport. Meghan Law, a 33 year old NHS nurse from Aberdeen, was due to fly from Edinburgh to Phuket with her two children on October 8 for a two-week, £3,000 (approximately 133,000 Thai baht) family getaway…
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Vietjet goes green with SAF as jet delivery hits more delays
A budget airline has begun using sustainable aviation fuel on select routes while facing delays in new aircraft deliveries due to external disruptions. Vietjet Thailand has kicked off its first flights using a blend of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), becoming the latest low-cost carrier to go green while grappling with delayed aircraft deliveries. The airline launched SAF-powered operations on its…
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Finnair piles on Thailand flights for winter sun seekers
Finnair has announced it will boost flights to Thailand for the upcoming winter season, aiming to meet rising demand from European travellers seeking warmth. The airline will offer 25 weekly flights to the kingdom, marking a significant increase in capacity and forward planning for the Nordic carrier. Currently operating three daily services to Thailand, Finnair is adding another daily flight…
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Suvarnabhumi warns against lanterns and lasers this Loy Krathong
With the Loy Krathong Festival just days away, Suvarnabhumi Airport has issued a firm warning: no sky lanterns, fireworks, balloons, sparklers, or laser beams near the airport, or risk jeopardising aviation safety. The Airports of Thailand (AOT) is calling on government agencies, businesses, and residents in surrounding areas to refrain from festive activities that could pose dangers to aircraft operations…
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Thailand sets sights on sky-high role as aviation powerhouse
Thailand’s transport officials are collaborating with aviation leaders to transform the country into a regional hub for aircraft maintenance and connectivity. The Transport Ministry sets plans in motion to transform the nation into a premier aviation hub for Southeast Asia. The strategy focuses heavily on boosting its maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) sector while redirecting air traffic to ease congestion…
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Thailand welcomes new Norse Air route from London to Bangkok
Thailand welcomed the first Norse Atlantic Airways flight from London-Gatwick to Bangkok, marking a new route aimed at boosting British tourism during the winter season. The inaugural flight touched down at Suvarnabhumi Airport on October 27, where it was greeted with a warm Thai-style welcome ceremony. Executives from the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and Airports of Thailand joined the…
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Travel mayhem hits Asia and Bangkok with 27 flights axed
Travellers across Asia and the Gulf are facing major disruptions as multiple airlines cancel and delay flights at key airports due to operational issues. A total of 27 cancellations and 102 delays were reported across major international hubs, including Singapore, Bangkok, Jakarta, Manila, Dubai, Jeddah, Phnom Penh, and Bagdogra, sparking frustration among affected passengers. Airlines such as Saudia, KLM, Hainan…
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Suvarnabhumi Airport officials accused of corruption after seized belonging sold online
A Thai woman accused officials at Suvarnabhumi International Airport of corruption after finding that her pocket knife, which was confiscated on August 25, was sold on Facebook. Chongpriang Tainangam took to her Facebook account, demanding clarification from Suvarnabhumi Airport and the Airports of Thailand (AOT) regarding the sale of her seized knife. She discovered the item being sold on the Leatherman…
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Thailand gears up for busy winter with 250 plus airline services
Thailand will welcome over 250 airlines this winter season, as aviation officials allocate flight slots and charter flights surge to boost tourism. Thailand is preparing for a surge in international arrivals this High Season, with the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) confirming that 255 airlines have been allocated flight slots for the winter 2025 schedule. The season, running from…
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Thai Airways boosts board, plots fresh flight to recovery
Thai Airways is expanding its board and fleet as part of a major governance overhaul aimed at boosting transparency and competitiveness post-rehabilitation. The airline’s chairman, Lavaron Sangsnit, confirmed the move as part of sweeping changes ahead of a key Annual General Meeting (AGM) in December. The expanded board will include a long-awaited risk management committee, aimed at strengthening oversight of…
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Airlines boost Thailand flights under TAT tourism drive
International airlines are ramping up flights to Thailand to meet growing travel demand, following tourism initiatives led by Thai officials. Thailand is poised to see a significant tourism surge as international airlines increase flight routes, frequencies, and seat capacity to the kingdom in the fourth quarter. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) confirmed that carriers from East Asia, South Asia,…
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Thailand aces global aviation safety audit with sky-high score
Thailand’s civil aviation authority has achieved a top safety score in a global audit conducted by an international body assessing aviation oversight standards. The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) has announced a stellar performance in a recent international safety audit, scoring a preliminary 91.35% in the Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme – Continuous Monitoring Approach (USOAP CMA) conducted by…
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New RTAF chief to train female pilots and boost drones
Thailand’s new air force commander announced plans to train female fighter pilots and enhance drone capabilities as part of a modernisation strategy. Air Chief Marshal (ACM) Sakesan Kantha outlined his 2026 strategy at the Navaminda Kasatriyadhiraj Royal Thai Air Force Academy in Muak Lek district, Saraburi. His speech came amid rising border tensions with Cambodia and set the tone for…
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Thai Airways revamp board with zero-tolerance corruption vow
The Ministry of Finance has confirmed that all 17 nominees for Thai Airways International’s board of directors are seasoned professionals, as the airline prepares for a major leadership shake-up following its return to the stock market. Lavaron Sangsnit, the ministry’s permanent secretary and chairman of the Thai Airways board, assured the public yesterday, October 10, that the selection process is…
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Sky Angkor cancellations disrupt Bangkok-Phnom Penh travel
Travellers flying between Bangkok and Phnom Penh were hit by unexpected cancellations and delays from Sky Angkor Airlines, disrupting plans and itineraries. The disruption stemmed from the airline’s operations at Suvarnabhumi International Airport and Techo International Airport in Phnom Penh. According to data from FlightAware, three flights: SWM672, SWM673, and SWM675 were cancelled, and three others experienced significant delays, impacting…
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RTN plane blunder shuts Phuket runway, delays 70 flights
A military aircraft’s landing gear failure forced Phuket Airport to shut its runway, disrupting dozens of flights and prompting an emergency response. Phuket International Airport was brought to a standstill yesterday, October 8, after a Royal Thai Navy (RTN) aircraft suffered a landing gear malfunction during touchdown, forcing a temporary closure of the runway and affecting 70 flights. According to…
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Indian getaway: SpiceJet adds daily Phuket flights
India’s domestic airline SpiceJet has announced new daily non-stop flights from Delhi and Mumbai to Phuket, giving Indian travellers more options for short-haul international holidays. SpiceJet has announced new daily services linking Delhi and Mumbai to Phuket, one of Thailand’s most popular holiday hotspots. The flights are timed to coincide with the busy winter travel season. According to the airline,…
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Suvarnabhumi flies high with booming flights and upgrades
Suvarnabhumi Airport has reported a rise in flights and passengers, as officials reveal strong growth and outline expansion plans for the year ahead. The airport has recorded a strong recovery in air travel, with 58.10 million passengers passing through its gates in the first 11 months of fiscal year 2025 (October 2024 to August 2025). Kittipong Kittikachorn, General Manager of…
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AOT pushes for new global flight routes at Hong Kong forum
The Airports of Thailand Public Company Limited (AOT) engaged global airlines at a major aviation forum in Hong Kong to expand flight routes and boost international travel. The AOT ramped up efforts to transform Thailand into a leading aviation hub by participating in the 30th World Route Development Forum, or Routes World 2025, held from September 24 to 26 at…
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Ex-Thai Airways boss: Ditch all govt shares or risk relapse
A former Thai Airways executive has urged the government to sell its remaining shares, warning that political control could derail the airline’s recovery. Banyong Pongpanich, a former board member of Thai Airways International (THAI), called on the government to sell its remaining shares in the airline, insisting that only full privatisation can protect the company from sliding back into bureaucratic…
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Bangkok Airways bags 5-star award for eco-friendly flights
Bangkok Airways received a 5-star sustainability award from the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) for its efforts to promote greener aviation and responsible tourism. The award, part of TAT’s Sustainable Tourism Acceleration Rating (STAR) programme, recognises tourism operators who embrace sustainable practices in line with global standards. For Bangkok Airways, it cements its reputation as a leader in environmentally responsible…
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