Thailand could see more international flight options after 87 airlines held talks on Thailand flight slots during an International Air Transport Association (IATA) conference in Bangkok, held from June 9 to 11.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) said the talks took place during the 158th IATA Slot Conference. A total of 87 airlines out of 146 participating carriers showed interest in Thailand routes.
CAAT said the interest reflected confidence in Thailand’s aviation industry, tourism sector, and potential as a regional aviation hub.
Airlines that joined the discussions included carriers from Europe, the Middle East, the Americas, and Asia. They included Air France, Emirates, Qatar Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Cathay Pacific, ANA, Korean Air, Singapore Airlines, and several other major global airlines.
The winter 2026 to 2027 slot allocation is expected to support new and expanded routes linking Thailand with cities worldwide. The routes include:
- Helsinki – Suvarnabhumi – Melbourne (round-trip)
- Taichung – Suvarnabhumi (round-trip)
- Minsk – Suvarnabhumi (round-trip)
- Kuching – Suvarnabhumi (round-trip)
- London Gatwick – Phuket (round-trip)
- London Heathrow – Phuket (round-trip)
- Copenhagen – Phuket (round-trip)
- Chisinau – Phuket – Sharjah
- Cebu – Phuket (round-trip)
- Hangzhou – Chiang Mai (round-trip)
- Shanghai – Chiang Mai (round-trip)
New airlines receiving slots for Thailand include Riyadh Air from Saudi Arabia, Virgin Atlantic from the United Kingdom, SkyUp Nistru from Moldova, and AirBorneo from Malaysia.
CAAT said the development is a positive long-term sign for Thai tourism, trade, and investment, while improving access for foreign visitors and Thai travellers.
In other aviation news, Thai Airways International will reinstate its direct flights between Bangkok and Amsterdam from July 1, as part of its push to strengthen connections between Thailand and Europe.
The story Thailand could gain 11 new international routes after airline talks as seen on Thaiger News.
