**
Thai Airways International (ICAO: THA) is the flag carrier airline of Thailand, established in 1960 as a joint venture between Scandinavian Airlines System (SAS) and Thai Airways Company. In 1988, it merged with Thai Airways Company to form the airline known today. Its corporate headquarters are located in Bangkok, and its primary operational base is Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK), with secondary hubs in Phuket and Chiang Mai.
As of November 2025, Thai Airways operates a fleet of 79 aircraft, consisting of a mix of wide-body and narrow-body aircraft from both Boeing and Airbus. The fleet includes models such as the Airbus A320-200, Airbus A330-300, Airbus A350-900, Boeing 777-200ER, Boeing 777-300ER, Boeing 787-8, and Boeing 787-9. The airline has a further 82 aircraft on order and aims to expand its fleet to 143 aircraft by 2029.
THAI's route network encompasses 51 international and 10 domestic destinations across 30 countries, primarily focusing on Europe, Asia, and Oceania as of March 2025. Thai Airways is also a founding member of the Star Alliance, the world's first and largest airline alliance, established on May 14, 1997. The airline offers various cabin classes, including Royal First Class, Royal Silk Class (Business Class), and Economy Class. Royal Silk Class on some routes provides 180° fully-flat seats, in-flight entertainment, Wi-Fi, and unique ground perks for departing passengers from Bangkok, such as a complimentary pre-flight massage.
Recent traveler reviews for Thai Airways generally highlight a positive experience, particularly concerning the airline's soft product. The overall sentiment is that of exceptional service, delicious food, and comfortable cabins.
What Travelers Love:**
Common Complaints:
Overall sentiment summary: Thai Airways generally receives positive feedback for its exceptional in-flight service and catering. However, the travel experience can be inconsistent due to varying aircraft modernity, and some travelers have expressed frustration with ground operations and handling of delays.
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Thai Airways has a strong safety record in recent times, though its history includes several notable incidents. Major accidents with fatalities occurred in 1980, 1985, 1987, 1992, and 1998, with the last fatal accident being Flight 261 in December 1998, which resulted in 101 fatalities due to pilot error and spatial disorientation during landing. More recent incidents, though non-fatal, include turbulence causing injuries in August 2025, a temporary runway excursion in September 2024, and a rejected takeoff due to uncontained engine failure in October 2019.
In terms of regulatory compliance, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) upgraded Thailand's air safety rating to Category 1 in April 2025, reversing a downgrade from 2015. This allows Thai airlines to resume direct flights to the U.S. and enter codeshare agreements with American carriers. Thai Airways also successfully passed the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) Third Country Operator (TCO) Audit, receiving authorization for flight operations to European Union countries in December 2015. The airline's safety assessment by AirlineRatings.com is influenced by factors such as ICAO and IOSA audits.
As of January 2025, the average age of the Thai Airways fleet is 10 years, according to IBA Insight. By June 2025, this average remained at 10.2 years. The airline has been undertaking significant operational improvements and financial restructuring, which have positively impacted its safety assessment.
Based on available data, Thai Airways received an overall safety rating upgrade to a perfect 7/7** from AirlineRatings.com in June 2025. This upgrade was attributed to renewed confidence in the airline's financial stability and operational improvements, placing THAI in the top tier of global carriers for passenger safety. While not specific safety awards, Thai Airways was recognized at the Skytrax 2024 World Airline Awards, ranking 6th for World's Best Airport Services and 8th for World's Best Airline Cabin Crew and Best Airline Staff in Asia, demonstrating its commitment to high service standards which include safety and convenience.
| Route | Destination | Flights | Distance | Aircraft | Last Seen |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HDY → BKK |
Suvarnabhumi Bangkok Int'l
Bangkok
|
84 | 467 mi | A320 | Dec 10, 2025 |
| CNX → BKK |
Suvarnabhumi Bangkok Int'l
Bangkok
|
58 | 371 mi | A320 | Nov 5, 2025 |
| BKK → HKT |
Phuket Int'l
Phuket
|
57 | 419 mi | A320 | Dec 10, 2025 |
| KBV → BKK |
Suvarnabhumi Bangkok Int'l
Bangkok
|
55 | 404 mi | A321 | Dec 11, 2025 |
| DEL → BKK |
Suvarnabhumi Bangkok Int'l
Bangkok
|
54 | 1834 mi | A320 | Dec 8, 2025 |
| RGN → BKK |
Suvarnabhumi Bangkok Int'l
Bangkok
|
43 | 380 mi | A320 | Dec 9, 2025 |
| PEN → BKK |
Suvarnabhumi Bangkok Int'l
Bangkok
|
43 | 581 mi | A320 | Dec 9, 2025 |
| BKK → CNX |
Chiang Mai Int'l
Chiang Mai
|
40 | 371 mi | A320 | Dec 5, 2025 |
| BKK → HND |
Tokyo Int'l (Haneda)
Ota
|
38 | 2855 mi | B77W | Dec 9, 2025 |
| VTE → BKK |
Suvarnabhumi Bangkok Int'l
Bangkok
|
37 | 321 mi | A321 | Dec 10, 2025 |
| KKC → BKK |
Suvarnabhumi Bangkok Int'l
Bangkok
|
37 | 236 mi | A320 | Nov 28, 2025 |
| BOM → BKK |
Suvarnabhumi Bangkok Int'l
Bangkok
|
36 | 1885 mi | A333 | Dec 10, 2025 |
| HKT → BKK |
Suvarnabhumi Bangkok Int'l
Bangkok
|
34 | 419 mi | A321 | Sep 6, 2025 |
| TPE → BKK |
Suvarnabhumi Bangkok Int'l
Bangkok
|
32 | 1548 mi | A359 | Nov 16, 2025 |
| BKK → ICN |
Incheon Int'l
Seoul (Incheon)
|
32 | 2281 mi | A359 | Dec 9, 2025 |
| BKK → UTH |
Udon Thani Int'l
Udon Thani
|
30 | 290 mi | A321 | Dec 5, 2025 |
| BKK → KKC |
Khon Kaen
Khon Kaen
|
30 | 236 mi | A321 | Dec 4, 2025 |
| LHE → BKK |
Suvarnabhumi Bangkok Int'l
Bangkok
|
28 | 2076 mi | B772 | Dec 5, 2025 |
| HKG → BKK |
Suvarnabhumi Bangkok Int'l
Bangkok
|
28 | 1051 mi | A321 | Nov 17, 2025 |
| BKK → DEL |
Indira Gandhi Int'l
New Delhi
|
28 | 1834 mi | B788 | Dec 9, 2025 |
| BKK → HDY |
Hat Yai Int'l
Hat Yai / Songkhla
|
27 | 467 mi | A320 | Dec 7, 2025 |
| SIN → BKK |
Suvarnabhumi Bangkok Int'l
Bangkok
|
26 | 881 mi | A321 | Dec 8, 2025 |
| MNL → BKK |
Suvarnabhumi Bangkok Int'l
Bangkok
|
26 | 1361 mi | B77W | Dec 11, 2025 |
| CEI → BKK |
Suvarnabhumi Bangkok Int'l
Bangkok
|
24 | 438 mi | A320 | Dec 9, 2025 |
| BKK → LHR |
London Heathrow
London
|
23 | 5958 mi | B77W | Nov 29, 2025 |
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.