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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Jet fuel tax relief losing altitude, says deputy finance minister
The Finance Ministry appears unlikely to extend the jet fuel excise tax reduction, which was initially introduced during the Covid-19 pandemic, stated Deputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat. Julapun addressed a recent proposal by a group of budget airlines seeking further reductions in the jet fuel excise tax. He remarked that such requests are not of immediate importance. Julapun highlighted that…
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ITA Airways launches direct flights from Rome to Bangkok
ITA Airways will launch a groundbreaking nonstop service between Rome (FCO) and Bangkok (BKK) starting November 16. This marks the airline’s inaugural route between Italy and Thailand, creating an exciting new travel option for leisure and business travellers. For the first time in years, passengers will enjoy direct flights connecting the Italian and Thai capitals, thanks to ITA’s state-of-the-art Airbus…
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Bangkok airport’s automatic passport control ready for check-in
The head of the Thai Immigration Bureau inspected the readiness of Suvarnabhumi International Airport’s new automatic passport control channels, which will start being used by Thai citizens tomorrow, July 3. He also took the time to dine with the immigration officers, expressing the need to uphold their welfare. The Commissioner of the Immigration Bureau, Ittipol Ittisarnronnachai, visited the immigration checkpoint…
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Thai Airways launches new routes to Milan and Oslo
Thai Airways International Public Co., Ltd. announced the inauguration of two new flight routes to Milan, Italy, and Oslo, Norway, starting tomorrow. The launch ceremony took place at Suvarnabhumi International Airport’s departure hall. Chairman of the Rehabilitation Plan Executive Committee of Thai Airways, Piyasawat Amranand, revealed that the airline resumed flights to these European destinations, aiming to accommodate increasing passenger…
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Boeing acquires Spirit AeroSystems in US$4.7bn all-stock deal
Boeing announced the acquisition of its troubled supplier, Spirit AeroSystems, in an all-stock deal valued at US$4.7 billion, following extensive negotiations. This move comes as Boeing seeks to address significant safety and regulatory challenges affecting both companies. The total value of the transaction, including Spirit’s last reported net debt, is approximately US$8.3 billion. According to Boeing, each share of Spirit…
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Phuket flight fiasco: Downpour delays leave one still in the clouds
Phuket International Airport confirmed that only one of the 17 flights delayed by yesterday’s downpours has yet to complete its journey. To mitigate any dangers posed by landing in intense weather conditions, inbound flights were diverted to Don Mueang and Suvarnabhumi International Airports, as well as airports in Krabi, Langkawi, Penang, and Surat Thani as pilots had no vision of…
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Thai Airways teams up with Amadeus for a major tech overhaul
Thai Airways (THAI) renewed and expanded its distribution agreement with tech giant Amadeus. This strategic partnership aims to deliver a seamless and personalised travel experience, both online and on mobile platforms. THAI will enhance its website and mobile booking channels, ensuring a smoother and more intuitive journey for passengers. Nuthaphol Amawatana, THAI’s head of pricing and revenue management stated that…
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AirAsia operates flights betweeen Kuala Lumpur and Chiang Rai
AirAsia will be launching a direct route from Kuala Lumpur to Chiang Rai, launching on November 2 with three weekly flights. To celebrate this exciting addition, the airline is offering an irresistible deal: Free seats for the inaugural flights. The free seat promotion applies to the base fare for one-way flights, excluding airport taxes, MAVCOM fees, fuel surcharges, and other…
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AOT shakes up commercial space at Bangkok and Phuket airports
Airports of Thailand (AOT) plans to reclaim prime commercial and office spaces at Suvarnabhumi and Phuket International Airports in a move to improve passenger satisfaction, despite facing a potential loss of over 90 million baht. AOT revealed plans to reclaim areas currently operated by King Power Duty-Free and office spaces used by key government agencies, including the Immigration Bureau, the…
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Qatar Airways 2024’s best airline, Bangkok Airways best regionally
Qatar Airways has been named the best airline in the world for 2024, overtaking last year’s champion, Singapore Airlines, meanwhile, Bangkok Airways secured the title of the world’s best regional airline for the eighth consecutive year, according to Skytrax’s World Airline Awards. Qatar Airways achieved the top spot in the annual rankings, while Singapore Airlines fell to second place. Emirates…
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Malaysia Airlines flight to Bangkok returns to Kuala Lumpur
Malaysia Airlines has clarified an emergency incident involving flight MH780, en route from Kuala Lumpur to Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok. The flight had to return to Kuala Lumpur International Airport due to technical issues. Flight MH780, operated by Malaysia Airlines, declared an emergency code 7700, indicating a serious issue requiring immediate attention. The aircraft descended from its cruising altitude to…
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Post-pandemic airfares to remain high amid travel surge
Despite a slight relief due to declining jet fuel prices and increased flight capacity, airfares are expected to remain high in the post-pandemic travel surge and are unlikely to revert to pre-pandemic levels soon. AirAsia Aviation’s CEO Bo Lingam spoke on the changes in travelling patterns post-pandemic in an interview. “[The aircraft] load factor is around 90%, this was unheard…
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Sky-high opportunities: Vietjet Thailand holds recruitment event
Vietjet Thailand took off with its largest recruitment event in six years on June 15, transforming the Paragon Cineplex in Siam Paragon into a bustling hub of aviation career opportunities. This year’s Sky Career Festival, an annual extravaganza since 2018, saw the launch of Vietjet Thailand’s groundbreaking Major Cadet Pilot Training Programme. Over 10,000 eager attendees flocked to explore diverse…
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Thailand aims to become regional aviation hub by 2030
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin unveiled a vision to transform the country into a regional aviation hub as part of the Ignite Thailand, Aviation Hub initiative, aiming to enhance Thailand’s capacity and attractiveness in the aviation sector. The Bangkok-born prime minister stressed the need to address existing problems before upgrading the aviation hub. Suvarnabhumi International Airport, once ranked 13th globally, has fallen…
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SCAT Airlines operates new routes from Kazakhstan to U-Tapao
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) announced new flight connections at U-Tapao–Rayong–Pattaya International Airport (UTP), courtesy of SCAT Airlines and AirAsia. This move underscores Thailand’s strategic push to enhance accessibility for international business travellers and tourists. SCAT Airlines is operating a charter service using Boeing 737 Max-9 with 213 seats from Almaty, Kazakhstan via flight number VSV5357 every seven to…
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British Airways flights to Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur resume soon
British Airways (BA) resumes flights to Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok this year, marking a significant step in its regional expansion strategy. Chairman and CEO Sean Doyle expressed the importance of this strategic return. “For a global carrier like us, expanding our network in Asia as quickly as possible is crucial. With more aircraft joining our fleet in the coming years,…
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Phetch-Hua Hin Airport set to go international by 2025
To catapult Thailand’s aviation industry into the global elite, Hua Hin Airport in Prachuap Khiri Khan Province is undergoing a spectacular transformation. Rebranded as Phetch-Hua Hin International Airport, this dazzling upgrade is slated for completion by late 2025. Earlier this week, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin made his second visit to the construction site, rallying support from key agencies to ensure…
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AirAsia resumes direct flights from Kuala Lumpur to Pattaya
AirAsia resumed its direct flights between Kuala Lumpur and Pattaya, yesterday, June 17. The airline will now operate this popular route three times a week, with flights scheduled every Monday, Friday, and Sunday. Flight AK840 is set to take off from Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL) at 11am, landing in Pattaya’s U-Tapao Rayong-Pattaya International Airport (UTP) at 12.05pm. The return…
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Krabi Airport’s runway to riches, a 941-million-baht taxiway twist
The Department of Airports (DoA) is pushing forward with a 941-million-baht project to build a parallel taxiway at Krabi Airport. Currently, the project is over 76% complete. DoA Deputy Director-General Wittawas Pakdesontiskul recently inspected the site and attended a meeting to monitor progress. The meeting included representatives from the contractor, Nawarat Patanakarn Public Co. Ltd., along with consultancies We Engineering…
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RTAF eyes SAAB Gripen jets to replace ageing F-16s
Thailand is considering replacing its ageing fleet of F-16 fighter jets with SAAB’s Gripen models, as revealed during a recent tour of SAAB’s headquarters in Stockholm. Reporters from Thailand were given an extensive look at the Gripen E/F manufacturing line and a flight simulator, showcasing the modern technology and capabilities of the fighter jets. The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF)…
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Budget airlines push jet fuel tax cut to reduce airfare prices
Budget airlines have issued an appeal to the Finance Ministry to reduce the excise tax on jet fuel, to help mitigate their operational costs with the fragile state of the industry. Following a meeting with representatives from low-cost airlines, Deputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat reported that the carriers discussed economic challenges and reiterated their commitment to supporting government measures aimed…
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Thailand urged to upgrade regional airports to boost tourism
The Airlines Association of Thailand (AAT) called upon the government to upgrade more regional airports to international status, aiming to boost tourism and generate more revenue for Thaniland’s 55 second-tier cities. At the Ignite Tourism Thailand event, chaired by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, AAT President Puttipong Prasarttong-Osoth highlighted the need for developing regional airport facilities to handle international flights. This…
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Singapore Airlines pays out after turbulence tragedy
Singapore Airlines has offered compensation to passengers following a terrifying turbulence incident that left one dead and many injured. Singapore Airlines announced it will provide US$10,000 (approximately 360,000 baht) in compensation to passengers who sustained injuries during a severe turbulence incident on a flight from London to Singapore. The tragic episode, which occurred last month, left a 73 year old…
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Jetstar Asia launches new route from Singapore to Krabi
Jetstar Asia is soaring high with its latest addition to its flight network. Last Friday, the airline launched a new route from Singapore to the stunning resort destination of Krabi in southern Thailand, adding over 60,000 seats annually. The inaugural flight, 3K573, took off from Singapore Changi Airport at 7.32am local time (6.32am Thailand time) and landed in Krabi at…
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Thailand takes flight with airlines to boost tourism in 2024
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is soaring to new heights, actively courting partnerships with a sky-high count of 11 international airlines to elevate both burgeoning and established markets in the latter part of this year. With the long-haul market expected to fly in at least 770 billion baht from a soaring flock of 10.8 million foreign visitors in 2024,…
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Thailand’s aviation hub dreams delayed by global supply issues
Thailand’s ambition to become the leading aviation hub in the region by 2030 may face significant delays due to global supply chain disruptions, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA). The country needs to remove unnecessary regulations and accelerate digitalisation efforts to improve aviation efficiency. IATA‘s Director-General, Willie Walsh expressed his views at the group’s annual general meeting in…
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New automatic passport control tested at Suvarnabhumi Airport
The new Automatic Channel for passport control at Suvarnabhumi Airport was personally tested by Wisanu Prasarttong-Osoth, chairman of Airports of Thailand (AOT), before its official launch yesterday. This system aims to ease congestion at immigration checkpoints. Wisanu participated in a real-world test of the new automatic passport control system before heading to Malaysia on flight TG415. The new system is…
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Austrian Airlines to operate more flights to Bangkok
Austrian Airlines, boasting a modern fleet of Airbus A320s, Boeing 767s, and Boeing 777s, has increased its weekly flights from Vienna to Bangkok to 13 flights. Brendan Shashoua, Lufthansa Group Senior Director Sales – Southeast Asia and the Pacific made the announcement. “Since 1988, Austrian Airlines has connected Vienna with the vibrant Thai capital of Bangkok. With Thailand being a…
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Bangkok Airways, SO/ Maldives eye growth in tourism boom
Bangkok Airways and luxury resort SO/ Maldives are optimistic about expanding their business in the Maldives, a popular destination among Thai tourists. The Maldives achieved a significant milestone in tourism last year, welcoming over 1.8 million visitors, the highest number in a year, according to the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corp. Bangkok Airways resumed flights to the Maldives in…
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Thai Pilots Association opposes eased restrictions for foreign pilots
The Thai Pilots Association vehemently opposed a controversial government proposal to ease restrictions on foreign pilots flying with Thai carriers temporarily. Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin recently pinpointed the slow resumption of flights as a significant hurdle for Thailand’s tourism sector. Post-pandemic personnel shortages are a global issue, but the prime minister believes Thailand needs a quick fix. During a visit…
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