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 to get tickets for the Frank Bruno Gala Dinner Tour in Thailand
Frank Bruno, one of Britain’s most beloved boxing legends, is making his final tour in Thailand this March. The former WBC heavyweight champion will be hosting a series of gala dinner events across Pattaya, Bangkok, Hua Hin, and Koh Phangan. The...
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Airlines urge Thailand to take flight with airport upgrades
Several international airlines have urged Thailand to enhance its key airport facilities and improve transport links between airports and cities, to meet its ambition of becoming a regional aviation hub. The Thai government has laid out a goal of handling 150 million passengers annually by 2030. Egaluk Ngiwprom, Southeast Asia marketing manager of Spring Airlines, believes this is a challenging…
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Thailand seeks more flight routes from Laos and China
The Government of Thailand has its sights set on elevating the country’s aviation industry, with plans in the pipeline to request additional flight routes from Laos and China within the next two years. The move is part of a broader “Ignite Thailand” vision, articulated by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, aiming to position Thailand as a hub in eight key sectors,…
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Don Mueang Airport prepares for Songkran holiday travel spike
Bangkok’s Don Mueang International Airport gears up for an influx of approximately 625,000 passengers during the Songkran holiday period, which runs from April 11 to 17. It expects over 4,000 flights, marking a substantial 10.58% rise from the previous year’s data. Don Mueang Airport General Manager Wichit Kaewsaitiam attributed this surge to the government’s strategic policies aimed at bolstering domestic…
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Taking off: Passenger charges soar at six major Thai airports
Passenger service charges (PSC) at six major Thai airports have seen an increase, as announced by the Airports of Thailand Plc. The charges, applicable on both domestic and international departing flights, have been raised at Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Don Mueang, Hat Yai, Phuket and Suvarnabhumi airports. For international flights, the fees have been increased from 700 to 730 baht,…
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Bangkok Airways anticipates 20% revenue growth
A projected 20% growth in passenger revenue is on the horizon for Bangkok Airways this year as the company shifts its pricing strategy in response to a resurgence in demand. The airline’s forward bookings for the Songkran festival and the second quarter are looking strong. Puttipong Prasarttong-Osoth, the airline’s president, voiced optimism about the Thai aviation industry’s recovery from last…
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Air India scrambles for aircraft amidst passenger surge
Air India, now steered by Tata Group’s helm, is set to soar with 506 aircraft orders and a delivery every six days. CEO Campbell Wilson anticipates slight delays in their transformation journey, admitting they’re playing catch-up in the market. IndiGo, dominating India’s skies, plans a colossal expansion, eyeing a fleet surge from 300 to 1,000 aircraft by the decade’s end, reveals…
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Air India sacks pilot for boozy flight from Phuket
Air India sacked a pilot caught flying under the influence of alcohol following a positive alcohol test conducted after operating a flight from Phuket to India. The captain, who flew a Phuket-Delhi route last week, underwent a breathalyser (BA) test upon arrival in Delhi. In a bold move, Air India is set to lodge a First Information Report (FIR) against…
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Thai AirAsia sees triple surge in China flight bookings
In the wake of the permanent visa-free arrangement between Thailand and China, Thai AirAsia saw a wave of soaring bookings, catapulting towards a threefold increase in flights from Thailand to mainland China. Tansita Akrarittipirom, the director of commercial operations at Thai AirAsia, revealed that the company is witnessing a seismic shift in passenger demographics. “Previously, only 10% of our passengers…
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Malaysian Airlines unveils new routes including to Chiang Mai
Malaysia Airlines Berhad (MAB) announced three new routes to the Maldives, Chiang Mai, and Da Nang. As part of its ambitious expansion strategy aimed at capturing the leisure market, MAB, a key player in the Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG), is primed to whisk travellers away to exotic destinations with unparalleled ease. From its bustling hub in Kuala Lumpur, MAB is…
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THAI plans summer flights including Milan and Oslo
Thai Airways International (THAI) unveiled an ambitious summer schedule set to cover 61 global destinations, including Milan and Oslo. From March 31 to October 26, the airline is not just expanding its wings with a special focus on two brand-new destinations: the fashion capital of Milan and the scenic splendour of Oslo. This strategic expansion includes a significant increase in…
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Thailand and India sign MoU for more flights
India and Thailand penned a pivotal Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on air services. The bilateral MoU will further enhance the capacities of airlines operating between the two countries, aiming at strengthening people-to-people and economic ties. Currently, the aerial bridge between India and Thailand is bustling, with Air India, IndiGo, SpiceJet, and Vistara ensuring a seamless flow of travellers and tales…
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Paramedic sheds light on mid-air suicide attempt from Bangkok
A paramedic stepped forward to provide more details regarding a man’s suicide attempt on a flight from Thailand to the United Kingdom. The off-duty paramedic reportedly intervened on the EVA Air BR67 flight from Bangkok to London on Friday, March 15, to assist the man who had attempted to take his own life in the aeroplane bathroom. Gareth Lines, travelling from Thailand…
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Smokin’ setback: Forest fires force Bangkok Airways flight cancellations
Bangkok Airways had to cancel six flights at Mae Hong Son Airport this month due to smoke arising from widespread forest fires in the province. Bangkok Airways yesterday, March 18, cancelled flight PG 205, which runs from Bangkok to Lampang and then Mae Hong Son because the thick smoke affected the pilots’ visibility. Chiang Mai News reported that the flight…
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Plans for new airport in northern Thailand set to take off
Plans are underway for a new airport construction in Phayao, a province in northern Thailand. The project, expected to cost approximately 2 billion baht, is part of a broader initiative to transform Phayao into a primary tourist destination. Thailand Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, along with his delegates, yesterday, March 18, scouted potential sites within the regions of tambon Don Si…
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Mid-air drama: Man’s attempted suicide on Thailand to UK flight
Breaking news has emerged regarding a man’s attempted suicide on a flight from Thailand to the United Kingdom on Friday. The aircraft was forced to undergo an emergency landing at a London airport after a passenger reportedly tried to take his own life in a cabin toilet. The EVA Air BR67 flight from Bangkok to London had started its descent…
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Swiss technology revolutionises Thai railways with first arch culvert
Swiss technology finds its way into the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) as arch culvert technology is incorporated into the double-track railroad project between Den Chai district in Phrae and Chiang Khong district in Chiang Rai. This marks the first time such technology is being used in Thailand, according to Ekkarat Sriarayanpong, the head of the SRT governor’s office. The…
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RTAF to procure either Gripen E-series or F-16 Block 70 jets
The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) is set to procure either Swedish-produced Gripen E-series or American F-16 Block 70 fighter jets later this year. The information came to light during an address by RTAF chief Phanpakdee Pattanakul to senior air force officials at the RTAF headquarters. Phanpakdee noted that the original plan to purchase American F-35 fighter jets was no…
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Wheel deal: Wheelchair activist challenges airline’s boarding ban
A complaint has been lodged against an airline by an activist bound by a wheelchair, after the airline prohibited him from boarding, arguing that he did not have an escort. Kritsana Lalai, representing the Network for Transport Mobility for All, presented his complaint to Varawut Silpa-archa, the Minister for Social Development and Human Security. Reacting to the situation, the minister…
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Cathay Pacific staff rewarded with record bonus
Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific Airways announced a windfall for its staff, showering them with a bonus equal to 7.2 weeks’ pay. The airline revealed today a staggering net profit of HK$9.79 billion (approximately 44 billion baht) for last year, alongside plans to bolster its workforce by 20%, hiring an additional 5,000 personnel. Cathay Pacific also delighted shareholders by declaring its…
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Thailand adds 38 flights to soar past Songkran price surge
Thailand’s Civil Aviation Office (CAAT) has decided to add 38 new flights to its schedule, in an attempt to combat inflated airfare prices during the Songkran festival and improve the overall travel experience for holidaymakers. Deputy Director of the CAAT, Sarun Benjanirat, brought this development to light as a direct response to the call from Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit for…
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Thai Airways resumes flights to Sri Lanka next month
Thai Airways (THAI) gears up to grace the runways of Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) once again, starting April 1. With daily flights on the agenda, travellers are in for a treat as they embark on a journey of exploration and adventure. The resumption of THAI” operations is not just a mere flight schedule update, it is a boost for the…
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Flight chaos averted as man tries opening emergency door
A passenger’s curiosity nearly led to disaster on a domestic flight in China from Qingdao, Shandong Province to Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, when he attempted to open the emergency door just before takeoff. Fortunately, a vigilant flight attendant acted quickly to secure the door and inform her colleagues of the perilous situation. The incident, which caused considerable alarm among the cabin…
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Six airlines to offer discounted flights for Songkran holiday
The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) confirmed that six airlines will introduce 104 additional flights, offering a discount of approximately 20% for early morning and late night domestic flights during the Songkran holiday. This move is designed to offer a more economical travel option for holidaymakers. The announcement was made yesterday by the Deputy Director-General of CAAT, Sarun Benjanirut.…
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Bangkok bust nets over 5kg of cocaine at Suvarnabhumi Airport
Thai authorities successfully dismantled an international drug trafficking operation at Suvarnabhumi Airport, seizing a substantial haul of cocaine destined for the country’s entertainment venues. The Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB), along with the Customs Department, announced the capture of three foreign nationals and the interception of 5,360 grams of cocaine, cleverly concealed within clothes drying racks and sent…
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Discounted domestic flights for Songkran announced by CAAT
The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) announced that a discount of roughly 20% will be applied to early morning and late-night domestic flights during the Songkran holiday. This move is aimed at providing an economical travel option for all holidaymakers. Sarun Benjanirat, the deputy director-general of CAAT, disclosed today, March 11, that the initiative is in response to the…
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AirAsia ramp agent’s tarmac tango at Bangkok airport goes viral
An AirAsia ramp agent’s impromptu dance routine on the Don Mueang International Airport tarmac recently caught the attention of social media followers in Thailand, transforming from a point of initial drama to a story with a heartwarming conclusion. The young staff member, known as “Mos,” was captured dancing with fluid grace in his work attire against the backdrop of an…
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Thailand and France collaborate to upgrade Thai aviation industry
Thailand’s aviation industry is set to undergo a significant upgrade, in collaboration with France, as announced by Thai Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit. The partnership, conceived during a recent official visit to France, is intended to ready Thailand for future aviation demands. The minister held discussions with Damien Caze, the head of France’s Directorate-General for Civil Aviation, in the French capital.…
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Thai AirAsia opposes airfare reductions due to operational costs
Thai AirAsia weighed in on the issue of high airfares which prompted calls for price reductions, arguing that slashing ceiling prices is not a feasible solution due to increased operational costs borne by airlines since the onset of the pandemic. The airline’s Chief Executive, Santisuk Klongchaiya, suggested increasing flights during the Songkran festival as a potential strategy to decrease average…
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Double trouble: British lookalikes forge unlikely friendship on flight to Thailand
An airport mix-up led a pair of British lookalikes to discover they not only shared the same flight but also the same name, sparking an unlikely friendship. The lookalikes, Mark Garland, a 58 year old bus driver from Trowbridge, Wiltshire, and another Mark Garland, a 62 year old builder from Warmley, Bristol, were inadvertently seated next to each other on an…
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Thai government questions credibility of UK’s airport ranking
Thailand’s government spokesperson recently took to social media to question the legitimacy of a ranking released by Business Financing, a UK publisher. The ranking, published in 2023, listed Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports as among the worst in Asia, placing them at the seventh and tenth positions respectively. The ranking also hailed Noi Bai International Airport in Vietnam as the…
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