Latest news with #ThaiAirwaysInternational
The Star
4 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Thai Airways partners with airlines to boost US tourism, drops direct flight plans
BANGKOK: Thai Airways International (THAI) has reaffirmed its readiness to attract American tourists to Thailand through collaboration with airline partners, despite shelving plans for direct flights to the United States. THAI CEO Chai Eamsiri explained that the Federal Aviation Administration has recently upgraded Thailand's aviation safety rating from Category 2 (CAT2) to Category 1 (CAT1), placing it among countries that meet international aviation standards. As a result, Thai airlines are once again permitted to operate direct flights to US airspace. However, after conducting a feasibility study on resuming direct flights to the United States, THAI found the long-haul routes to be economically unviable due to the substantial fuel costs involved. Additionally, return flights from the US would require a reduction of more than 100 passenger seats, while cargo transport would be severely restricted due to fuel constraints limiting payload capacity. "From past flight data, THAI operated in the US market for over a decade, but consistently recorded losses. Even after adjusting strategies, including stopovers, profitability remained elusive,' he said. 'The long distances to destinations like Los Angeles and New York—requiring 17-hour flights—result in high operational costs. Today, after reassessment, we concluded that resuming direct flights would remain financially impractical." Chai further noted that despite direct flights being discontinued, THAI still maintains a presence in the American market. Currently, 30 per cent of its revenue comes from European travellers, followed by Asia, while the US market remains promising. By leveraging partnerships with six American airlines that operate within the region, THAI has managed to sustain revenue growth in the US market, he affirmed. - The Nation/ANN
The Star
25-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
Airbus eyes making Thailand Asia-Pacific aviation hub with new operations centre
BANGKOK: Anand Stanley (pic), President of Airbus for the Asia-Pacific region, announced that Thailand is emerging as a global leader in aviation, with rapid growth in the aviation industry, aviation technology, and aircraft orders. Airbus sees Thailand not just as a hub for Aircraft Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) services but as a significant centRE for advanced technology and engineering within the region's aviation sector. Stanley pointed out that the Asia-Pacific region is the fastest-growing aviation market in the world, and Airbus forecasts a demand for about 20,000 new aircraft in the region over the next 20 years, accounting for half of the global aircraft demand. Thailand is identified as one of the largest markets within this growth, he said. 'This year, we expect to deliver a total of 820 aircraft globally, with the majority of orders coming from the Asia-Pacific region,' he said. 'In Thailand, Airbus aircraft are operated by Thai Airways International, Bangkok Airways, Thai AirAsia, and Thai VietJet. Soon, Thai Airways will be launching its A321neo aircraft, featuring a new business-class seating configuration by the end of this year.' Stanley further emphasised that Airbus is committed to supporting Thailand's aviation industry, contributing to the country's economic development. The aviation sector in Thailand plays a key role in employment, with over 130,000 jobs and contributing over seven per cent to the country's GDP before the Covid-19 pandemic. Thailand is also recognised as a leader in sustainability in the region. Additionally, Airbus believes Thailand has the potential to produce more than five million tonnes of SAF (Sustainable Aviation Fuel) annually. The country's agricultural sector, which can provide excellent raw materials for SAF production—such as molasses, rice straw, corn stalks, and animal waste—aligns with Airbus's commitment to working with the Thai government and SAF producers to promote sustainable aviation fuel production. To further underscore its commitment to Thailand, Airbus has invested in a new 1,200-square-metre office in the country, which also houses NAVBLUE, Airbus's digital aviation operations unit. The new office will serve as a testing and verification centre for software solutions before delivery to global airline customers. It will also function as a regional operations hub to support and assist aircraft customers across the Asia-Pacific region in real time. - The Nation/ANN
Broadcast Pro
10-04-2025
- Business
- Broadcast Pro
NSG and Thai Airways to equip 80 aircraft with advanced IFC
NSGs IFC solution leverages the SES Open Orbits network, delivering high-speed, low-latency coverage through both GEO and MEO satellites across the airlines global routes. Neo Space Group (NSG), a Public Investment Fund (PIF) company and Saudi Arabias commercial space services provider, has announced an expanded partnership with Thai Airways International (THAI) to equip 80 aircraft with its state-of-the-art In-Flight Connectivity (IFC) solution. This announcement builds on the earlier announcement of NSG and Thai Airways collaboration to deliver a seamless in-flight connectivity service, offering market-leading connection speed, global gate-to-gate coverage (where permitted), and a personalised passenger experience through seamless login and exclusive benefits for Royal Orchid Plus members. THAI passengers will benefit from unlimited, high-speed internet access throughout their journey, reinforcing Thai Airways commitment to digital innovation and service excellence. NSGs IFC solution leverages the SES Open Orbits network, delivering high-speed, low-latency coverage through both GEO and MEO satellites across the airlines global routes. The rollout will begin with Thai Airways Boeing 777 fleet, which will be retrofitted starting in Q3 2025. In parallel, the Airbus A321neo fleet currently in production will be line-fitted with the Airbus HBCplus platform, with deliveries starting from Q4 2025. Building on this momentum, Thai Airways Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet, also in production, will be line-fitted with SPIs Aeroconnect terminal – a major milestone in NSG and Thai Airways joint connectivity strategy. Deliveries for the 787s are scheduled to commence in mid-2026. Martijn Blanken, CEO of Neo Space Group, stated: 'Being selected by Thai Airways International highlights the strength and versatility of NSGs multi-orbit connectivity solutions. We are excited to support Thai Airways in elevating the passenger experience with reliable, high-speed internet. This collaboration marks not only the airlines resurgence but also its forward-thinking vision, and we are proud to play a role in shaping its future.' NSGs IFC solution will deliver internet speeds of up to 200 Mbps, enabling best-in-class complimentary Wi-Fi streaming for premium class passengers and Royal Orchid Plus (ROP) members. This investment reflects THAIs broader strategy, building on its legacy of service excellence and digital innovation – while continuing to deliver its signature hospitality. Wirush Theparak, Head of Customer Experience and Product at Thai Airways International, commented: 'Thai Airways International is committed to delivering an elevated guest experience. Our partnership with NSG allows us to vastly improve our in-flight connectivity and offer our passengers new levels of convenience, entertainment, and comfort. This initiative marks a significant step in our journey to redefine passenger expectations.' NSGs comprehensive and innovative IFC solution integrates Display Interactive's Skywaves – an advanced traffic management system – with SkyFly, a seamless digital passenger interface, all powered by the SES Open Orbits network. This end-to-end solution enables delivery of high-speed, low-latency connectivity, delivering a superior passenger experience. Additionally, NSG works with leading aerospace partners to offer flexible hardware solutions, streamlining IFC deployment across diverse airline fleets.
Arab News
08-04-2025
- Business
- Arab News
Saudi Arabia's Neo Space Group to power Thai Airways with advanced in-flight connectivity
Neo Space Group, a Public Investment Fund company and Saudi Arabia's leading commercial space services provider, announced an expanded partnership with Thai Airways International to equip 80 aircraft with its state-of-the-art in-flight connectivity solution. This announcement builds on the earlier announcement of NSG and Thai Airways collaboration to deliver a seamless in-flight connectivity service, offering market-leading connection speed, global gate-to-gate coverage (where permitted), and a personalized passenger experience through seamless login and exclusive benefits for Royal Orchid Plus members. Thai Airways' passengers will benefit from unlimited, high-speed internet access throughout their journey. NSG's IFC solution leverages the SES Open Orbits network, delivering high-speed, low-latency coverage through both GEO and MEO satellites across the airline's global routes. The rollout will begin with Thai Airways' Boeing 777 fleet, which will be retrofitted starting in Q3 2025. In parallel, the Airbus A321neo fleet currently in production will be line-fitted with the Airbus HBCplus platform, with deliveries starting from Q4 2025. Building on this momentum, Thai Airways' Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet, also in production, will be line-fitted with SPI's Aeroconnect terminal — a major milestone in NSG and Thai Airways' joint connectivity strategy. Deliveries for the 787s are scheduled to commence in mid-2026. Martijn Blanken, CEO of Neo Space Group, said: 'Being selected by Thai Airways International highlights the strength and versatility of NSG's multi-orbit connectivity solutions. We are excited to support Thai Airways in elevating the passenger experience with reliable, high-speed internet. This collaboration marks not only the airline's resurgence but also its forward-thinking vision, and we are proud to play a role in shaping its future.' He added: 'NSG's IFC solution will deliver internet speeds of up to 200 Mbps, enabling best-in-class complimentary Wi-Fi streaming for premium class passengers and Royal Orchid Plus members. This investment reflects THAI's broader strategy, building on its legacy of service excellence and digital innovation — while continuing to deliver its signature hospitality.' Wirush Theparak, head of customer experience and product at Thai Airways International, said: 'Thai Airways International is committed to delivering an elevated guest experience. Our partnership with NSG allows us to vastly improve our in-flight connectivity and offer our passengers new levels of convenience, entertainment, and comfort. This initiative marks a significant step in our journey to redefine passenger expectations.'
Gulf Business
13-03-2025
- Gulf Business
These Asian airlines have just banned power banks onboard
Image credit: Getty Images A number of airlines have announced a ban on carrying power banks onboard since the beginning of this year. The most recent being Singapore Airlines, which has joined the list of airlines that have now banned power banks from being used and charged onboard, Singapore Airlines conveyed that from 1 April 2025, passengers on Singapore Airlines will neither be allowed to charge portable power banks on the USB ports onboard, nor use them to charge their personal devices throughout the duration of the flight. Thailand's state-owned national carrier, Thai Airways International, also announced a ban on the use of power banks onboard. The rule is to come into effect on 15 March, SKorea's new lithium battery rules on planes highlight growing risk for aviation South Korea had also on March 1, tightened rules on carrying lithium batteries on planes, highlighting a growing risk to flights worldwide from the batteries used in cellphones and e-cigarettes which can malfunction to produce smoke, fire or extreme heat. Last year three incidents a fortnight of overheating lithium batteries on planes were recorded globally by the US Federal Aviation Administration, compared to just under one a week in 2018. Aviation has long recognised the increasingly used batteries as a safety concern, and rules are periodically tightened in response to accidents. From Saturday, passengers on South Korean airlines should keep power banks and e-cigarettes on their person and not in overhead cabin bins. Devices should not be charged on board, and battery quantity and strength limits will be enforced. Passengers will be permitted to carry up to five 100-watt-hour portable batteries, while batteries over 160-watt-hours won't be allowed on board. The batteries will also need to be stored in clear plastic bags, according to the transport ministry. South Korean travellers flying out of Incheon International Airport, the country's largest airport, told Reuters that they were 'relieved' by the new rules. 'I feel safe since we have new guidelines that can protect us. I was also advised to carry (these batteries) with me when I'm on board, that makes me feel relieved that we can find out immediately when something happens,' said 37-year-old Kim Jae-woung. Korean authorities said the measures were in response to public anxiety about fires after an Air Busan plane was consumed in flames in January while waiting to take off. Investigators have not yet determined the cause of the fire, but a preliminary investigation statement on Thursday said it started in a cabin overhead locker after boarding. All 170 passengers and six crew were evacuated before the aircraft was destroyed. The fire was detected around 20 minutes after the delayed flight had originally been scheduled to depart. 'Existing cabin crew firefighting procedures have been demonstrated to be effective for all (lithium battery) incidents which have occurred in-flight. However if such an incident occurs while on the ground, the safest option is to evacuate the aircraft,' a spokesperson for the International Air Transport Association said. Cabin crew are trained to put out flames with extinguishers, cool the battery with liquid, and isolate the device in fire containment pouches or boxes. Hundreds on each plane Lithium metal and lithium-ion batteries are types of non-rechargeable and rechargeable batteries found in devices such as laptops, mobile phones, tablets, watches, power banks and electronic cigarettes. Passengers on a full flight could be carrying hundreds between them. Manufacturing faults or damage, such as a phone being crushed in the gap between plane seats or exposed to extreme temperatures, can cause them to short circuit and rapidly overheat. Heat, smoke and fire can result, and they can even explode in a 'high-energy expulsion of extremely hot gel and parts of the device acting as shrapnel', the Flight Safety Foundation says. Current aviation standards say power banks and personal electronic devices should travel in the cabin, not in checked luggage, so any malfunction can be tackled. A December 2024 research report by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) found that 'non-compliant lithium batteries persistently travel in hold baggage', and that hold baggage screening need to be improved. The industry is exploring new detection methods, including the use of scent detection dogs.
