Thai AirAsia

ICAO: AIQ Active as of Dec 11, 2025

158

Active Routes

2739

Flight Observations

55

Unique Destinations

66

Origin Airports

743

Avg Route Distance (mi)

2313

Longest Route (mi)

6

Domestic Routes

94

International Routes

About Thai AirAsia

Thai AirAsia (ICAO: AIQ) is a prominent Thai low-cost airline that commenced operations on February 4, 2004. It was established on November 12, 2003, as a joint venture between the Malaysian low-cost carrier AirAsia and Thailand's Shin Corporation, later known as Asia Aviation PLC, which currently holds a 55% stake. The airline's initial routes connected Bangkok–Don Mueang to Hat Yai, Phuket, and Chiang Mai.

The airline's primary operational hub is Bangkok–Don Mueang International Airport (DMK), with operations also maintained at Bangkok–Suvarnabhumi (BKK). Additionally, Thai AirAsia operates from other key bases including Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Hat Yai, Krabi, and Phuket airports. Thai AirAsia primarily operates a fleet composed of Airbus A320 family aircraft, specifically Airbus A320-200 (A320ceo), Airbus A320neo, and Airbus A321neo. As of September 30, 2025, its fleet includes 44 A320ceo (180 seats), 11 A320neo (186 seats), and 7 A321neo (236 seats).

Thai AirAsia maintains an extensive route network, offering both domestic and international flights with a strong regional focus. It serves short-haul, point-to-point routes across Southeast Asia, India, and the southern part of China. As of November 2025, the airline flies to 25 domestic and 47 international destinations across 17 countries, with most routes originating from its Bangkok hubs. As a low-cost carrier, Thai AirAsia provides a single-class (economy) service. Passengers can choose between Standard Seats and Hot Seats, which are located at the front and emergency exit rows, offering more legroom. The airline operates its own loyalty program, BIG Loyalty Programme, and is not a member of major global airline alliances.

What Travelers Say

Recent traveler reviews for Thai AirAsia highlight several positive aspects alongside common areas of complaint.

What Travelers Love:

Punctuality and Efficiency: Many passengers commend Thai AirAsia for its reliable on-time performance and efficient boarding and operational processes.
Affordable Fares: As a low-cost carrier, its competitive pricing is frequently praised, making air travel accessible for budget-conscious travelers.
In-flight Food Quality: Surprisingly for a budget airline, some travelers express satisfaction with the variety and taste of pre-ordered in-flight meals, such as "Uncle Chin's chicken rice."
Friendly Crew: The cabin crew is often described as polite, professional, and genuinely friendly, contributing to a pleasant travel experience.

Common Complaints:

Strict Baggage Policy and Extra Charges: A recurring issue for travelers is the airline's stringent baggage allowance, with many reporting high fees for slightly overweight carry-on bags or unexpected charges at check-in if baggage was not adequately pre-booked or declared online.
Poor Customer Service Accessibility: Passengers frequently report difficulties in contacting human customer service, often being directed to AI bots, leading to frustration when trying to resolve post-booking issues or secure refunds.
Cramped Seating: Consistent with a low-cost model, seats are often described as narrow with limited legroom, particularly for taller individuals, which can be uncomfortable on longer short-haul flights.
Flight Delays and Schedule Changes: Some reviews mention instances of flight delays and schedule alterations, occasionally without sufficient prior notice to passengers.

Overall, the sentiment towards Thai AirAsia is generally positive for those seeking budget-friendly travel, appreciating its efficiency and value. However, the airline often faces criticism regarding its inflexible ancillary policies and the perceived challenges in obtaining effective customer support for unforeseen circumstances.

Safety Information

Thai AirAsia has a commendable safety record, demonstrating a strong commitment to operational safety within the low-cost carrier segment.

Recent safety record and any notable incidents: Thai AirAsia has not suffered any fatal accidents since its inception. While some non-fatal incidents have been reported, such as a hail strike, battery thermal runaway, smoke in the cockpit, landing on a wrong runway, and loss of cabin pressure, these incidents were managed without fatalities.
Regulatory certifications: The airline holds the prestigious IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) certification, an internationally recognized benchmark for airline operational management and control systems. This accreditation significantly enhances its safety standing. Furthermore, AirAsia Group, including Thai AirAsia, has been recertified with a 7/7 safety rating by AirlineRatings.com. The group also complies with the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) Part 145 approval, ensuring high maintenance and safety standards.
Fleet age and maintenance reputation: Thai AirAsia operates a fleet primarily consisting of Airbus A320 family aircraft. As of September 30, 2025, the average age of its A320ceo fleet is 13.0 years, A320neo is 7.9 years, and A321neo is 2.3 years. The airline is known for its rigorous maintenance procedures and employs a highly experienced engineering team, contributing to the reliability of its fleet.
Overall safety assessment based on available data: Based on its consistent IOSA certification, a 7/7 safety rating from AirlineRatings.com, and an absence of fatal accidents, Thai AirAsia maintains an excellent overall safety assessment. The airline prioritizes safety through comprehensive safety management systems, employee training, and strict adherence to operational standards.
Any safety awards or recognitions: Thai AirAsia has received recognition for its safety and health protocols. It was awarded "The Best of SHA Awards 2021" for air transportation and "The Best of SHA 3-Star recognition" by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) for its adherence to safety and health administration standards, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. The AirAsia Group, including Thai AirAsia, has also been consistently recognized as one of the world's safest low-cost airlines.

Content generated by AI based on web research • Updated 2 weeks, 1 day ago

Route Network Map

Most Popular Routes

CNX → DMK

Chiang Mai International Airport → Don Muang Int'l (Old Bangkok Int'l)

353 miles

193 flights

A21N

KBV → DMK

Krabi Airport → Don Muang Int'l (Old Bangkok Int'l)

417 miles

134 flights

A320

HDY → DMK

Hat Yai International Airport → Don Muang Int'l (Old Bangkok Int'l)

483 miles

132 flights

A21N

SAI → DMK

Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport → Don Muang Int'l (Old Bangkok Int'l)

246 miles

127 flights

A21N

CNX → BKK

Chiang Mai International Airport → Suvarnabhumi Bangkok Int'l

371 miles

78 flights

A320

KBV → BKK

Krabi Airport → Suvarnabhumi Bangkok Int'l

404 miles

72 flights

A320

VTE → DMK

Wattay International Airport → Don Muang Int'l (Old Bangkok Int'l)

310 miles

68 flights

A320

HKT → DMK

Phuket International Airport → Don Muang Int'l (Old Bangkok Int'l)

430 miles

62 flights

A20N

LPQ → DMK

Luang Phabang International Airport → Don Muang Int'l (Old Bangkok Int'l)

427 miles

59 flights

A320

KBV → CNX

Krabi Airport → Chiang Mai Int'l

738 miles

53 flights

A320

Top Destinations

DMK (VTBD)

Don Muang Int'l (Old Bangkok Int'l)

Bangkok

1677 flights

59 routes

BKK (VTBS)

Suvarnabhumi Bangkok Int'l

Bangkok

279 flights

11 routes

CNX (VTCC)

Chiang Mai Int'l

Chiang Mai

170 flights

10 routes

HKT (VTSP)

Phuket Int'l

Phuket

127 flights

9 routes

KBV (VTSG)

Krabi

57 flights

2 routes

URT (VTSB)

Surat Thani

41 flights

3 routes

HDY (VTSS)

Hat Yai Int'l

Hat Yai / Songkhla

37 flights

4 routes

KKC (VTUK)

Khon Kaen

36 flights

3 routes

KUL (WMKK)

Kuala Lumpur Int'l

Sepang

35 flights

2 routes

UTH (VTUD)

Udon Thani Int'l

Udon Thani

33 flights

2 routes

Top Origin Airports

CNX (VTCC)

Chiang Mai International Airport

Chiang Mai

435 flights

10 routes

DMK (VTBD)

Don Mueang International Airport

Bangkok

267 flights

45 routes

KBV (VTSG)

Krabi Airport

Krabi

259 flights

3 routes

HDY (VTSS)

Hat Yai International Airport

Hat Yai

235 flights

4 routes

SAI (VDSA)

Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport

Siem Reap

145 flights

2 routes

BKK (VTBS)

Suvarnabhumi Airport

Bangkok

133 flights

11 routes

HKT (VTSP)

Phuket International Airport

Phuket

88 flights

4 routes

URT (VTSB)

Surat Thani Airport

Surat Thani

80 flights

3 routes

VTE (VLVT)

Wattay International Airport

Vientiane

68 flights

1 route

LPQ (VLLB)

Luang Phabang International Airport

Luang Phabang

64 flights

2 routes

Top Border Crossing Flights

DMK (VTBD)

Don Mueang International Airport

Bangkok, TH

1677 flights

59 routes

CNX (VTCC)

Chiang Mai International Airport

Chiang Mai, TH

170 flights

10 routes

HKT (VTSP)

Phuket International Airport

Phuket, TH

127 flights

9 routes

HDY (VTSS)

Hat Yai International Airport

Hat Yai / Songkhla, TH

37 flights

4 routes

KUL (WMKK)

Kuala Lumpur International Airport

Sepang, MY

35 flights

2 routes

Longest Routes

FUK → DMK

Fukuoka Airport → Don Muang Int'l (Old Bangkok Int'l)

2313 mi

DMK → FUK

Don Mueang International Airport → Fukuoka

2313 mi

MLE → DMK

Malé International Airport → Don Muang Int'l (Old Bangkok Int'l)

1965 mi

AMD → DMK

Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel International Airport → Don Muang Int'l (Old Bangkok Int'l)

1937 mi

DPS → DMK

Denpasar I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport → Don Muang Int'l (Old Bangkok Int'l)

1859 mi

Shortest Routes

DMK → BFV

Don Mueang International Airport → Buriram

199 mi

BFV → DMK

Buri Ram Airport → Don Muang Int'l (Old Bangkok Int'l)

199 mi

BFV → BKK

Buri Ram Airport → Suvarnabhumi Bangkok Int'l

199 mi

BKK → BFV

Suvarnabhumi Airport → Buriram

199 mi

DMK → PHS

Don Mueang International Airport → Phitsanulok

200 mi

All Routes

158 Total Routes

Showing 25 most popular routes

Route	Destination	Flights	Distance	Aircraft	Last Seen
CNX → DMK Chiang Mai International Airport	Don Muang Int'l (Old Bangkok Int'l) Bangkok	193	353 mi	A21N	Nov 7, 2025
KBV → DMK Krabi Airport	Don Muang Int'l (Old Bangkok Int'l) Bangkok	134	417 mi	A320	Dec 11, 2025
HDY → DMK Hat Yai International Airport	Don Muang Int'l (Old Bangkok Int'l) Bangkok	132	483 mi	A21N	Dec 10, 2025
SAI → DMK Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport	Don Muang Int'l (Old Bangkok Int'l) Bangkok	127	246 mi	A21N	Dec 11, 2025
CNX → BKK Chiang Mai International Airport	Suvarnabhumi Bangkok Int'l Bangkok	78	371 mi	A320	Nov 7, 2025
KBV → BKK Krabi Airport	Suvarnabhumi Bangkok Int'l Bangkok	72	404 mi	A320	Dec 11, 2025
VTE → DMK Wattay International Airport	Don Muang Int'l (Old Bangkok Int'l) Bangkok	68	310 mi	A320	Dec 8, 2025
HKT → DMK Phuket International Airport	Don Muang Int'l (Old Bangkok Int'l) Bangkok	62	430 mi	A20N	Oct 23, 2025
LPQ → DMK Luang Phabang International Airport	Don Muang Int'l (Old Bangkok Int'l) Bangkok	59	427 mi	A320	Dec 10, 2025
KBV → CNX Krabi Airport	Chiang Mai Int'l Chiang Mai	53	738 mi	A320	Dec 11, 2025
URT → DMK Surat Thani Airport	Don Muang Int'l (Old Bangkok Int'l) Bangkok	52	345 mi	A320	Dec 1, 2025
RGN → DMK Yangon International Airport	Don Muang Int'l (Old Bangkok Int'l) Bangkok	50	363 mi	A320	Dec 9, 2025
CXR → DMK Cam Ranh International Airport / Cam Ranh Air Base	Don Muang Int'l (Old Bangkok Int'l) Bangkok	49	595 mi	A320	Dec 8, 2025
HDY → BKK Hat Yai International Airport	Suvarnabhumi Bangkok Int'l Bangkok	47	467 mi	A320	Dec 10, 2025
MFM → DMK Macau International Airport	Don Muang Int'l (Old Bangkok Int'l) Bangkok	46	1026 mi	A320	Dec 10, 2025
TFU → DMK Chengdu Tianfu International Airport	Don Muang Int'l (Old Bangkok Int'l) Bangkok	44	1161 mi	A320	Dec 6, 2025
CEI → DMK Mae Fah Luang - Chiang Rai International Airport	Don Muang Int'l (Old Bangkok Int'l) Bangkok	44	420 mi	A320	Dec 9, 2025
ROI → DMK Roi Et Airport	Don Muang Int'l (Old Bangkok Int'l) Bangkok	42	261 mi	A320	Dec 6, 2025
CNX → KBV Chiang Mai International Airport	Krabi Krabi	41	1000 mi	A320	Nov 20, 2025
CNX → HKT Chiang Mai International Airport	Phuket Int'l Phuket	41	1000 mi	A320	Nov 20, 2025
UBP → DMK Ubon Ratchathani Airport	Don Muang Int'l (Old Bangkok Int'l) Bangkok	41	300 mi	A320	Nov 29, 2025
KOP → DMK Nakhon Phanom Airport	Don Muang Int'l (Old Bangkok Int'l) Bangkok	38	360 mi	A320	Nov 28, 2025
KKC → DMK Khon Kaen Airport	Don Muang Int'l (Old Bangkok Int'l) Bangkok	37	229 mi	A320	Nov 28, 2025
PEN → DMK Penang International Airport	Don Muang Int'l (Old Bangkok Int'l) Bangkok	32	596 mi	A320	Dec 10, 2025
NNT → DMK Nan Airport	Don Muang Int'l (Old Bangkok Int'l) Bangkok	30	339 mi	A320	Dec 3, 2025

Showing 25 of 158 routes. Routes sorted by flight frequency and activity.

Data Information:

Airline statistics are based on flight route observations collected from FlightAware AeroAPI and other sources. Flight counts represent observed operations, not scheduled frequencies. Route data is continuously updated as new flight information becomes available.

Data Freshness: Real-time
Last Update: Dec 11, 2025 06:04
Coverage: Observed routes only