Thai Airways International facts for kids
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| Founded | 29 March 1960 (as Thai International) |
|---|---|
| Commenced operations | 1 April 1988 (merger with Thai Airways Company) |
| AOC # | AOC.0003 |
| Hubs | Bangkok–Suvarnabhumi |
| Focus cities |
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| Frequent-flyer program | Royal Orchid Plus |
| Alliance | Star Alliance |
| Subsidiaries |
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| Fleet size | 75 |
| Destinations | 61 |
| Parent company | Ministry of Finance (47.86%) |
| Headquarters | 89 Vibhavadi Rangsit Road, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand |
| Key people | |
| Revenue |  78,889 million baht (H1 2023) |
| Net income | 14,795 million baht (H1 2023) |
| Total assets | 223,318 million baht (H1 2023) |
| Employees | 15,000 (2023) |
Thai Airways International Public Company Limited, also known as THAI, is the main airline of Thailand. It started in 1961 and has its main office in Bangkok. The airline's main base for flights is Suvarnabhumi Airport. THAI is one of the first airlines to join Star Alliance, a big group of airlines around the world.
THAI also used to own a part of Nok Air, which is a budget airline. In 2012, THAI launched its own regional airline called Thai Smile, which used smaller Airbus A320 planes. However, in 2023, it was decided that Thai Smile would join back with Thai Airways.
From its main hub at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport, THAI flies to many places. It serves 51 international cities and 10 cities within Thailand. The airline uses 71 planes, including large and small aircraft from Boeing and Airbus. As of November 2023, THAI flies to 27 countries, mostly in Europe, Asia, and Oceania. THAI was the first airline from Asia-Pacific to fly to Heathrow Airport in London. It has one of the biggest passenger operations in Europe among airlines from Asia-Pacific. The longest flight THAI operates is from Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) to Heathrow Airport (LHR), which is about 9,575 kilometers.
Contents
History of Thai Airways
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How Thai Airways Started
Thai Airways International began in 1960. It was a partnership between Scandinavian Airlines System (SAS) and Thailand's local airline, Thai Airways Company. SAS helped the new airline with how to fly planes, manage the business, and market itself. The goal was to help Thailand create its own independent airline. Over time, more and more Thai people took over the management roles.
The first flights for customers started on May 1, 1960. THAI flew to nine cities in Asia from Bangkok.
In 1971, THAI started flying longer distances using Douglas DC-8 planes to Australia. The next year, they began flights to Europe. In the late 1970s, they got bigger Douglas DC-10 planes. Flights to North America began in 1980.
In 1977, the Thai government bought all the shares from SAS. This made Thai Airways a company fully owned by the Thai government. Later, in 2020, the Thai Ministry of Finance reduced its ownership to less than half.
Growing Through the Years: 1980s and 1990s
On April 1, 1988, the Prime Minister of Thailand decided to combine Thai Airways International with the domestic airline, Thai Airways Company. This created one big national airline. In 1991, the company's shares were offered to the public on the Stock Exchange of Thailand. This was the largest public offering of shares ever in Thailand at that time.
In 1997, Thai Airways was one of the founding members of Star Alliance. This was the world's first and largest group of airlines, started by THAI, Lufthansa, Air Canada, SAS, and United Airlines.
Challenges and Changes in the 2000s
In the early 2000s, Thai Airways added new destinations like Milan, Moscow, and Johannesburg.
Using its Airbus A340-500 planes, THAI started non-stop flights between Bangkok and New York in 2005. This was its first non-stop service to North America. However, due to very high fuel costs, THAI stopped the New York service in 2008. The service to Los Angeles later became a one-stop flight through Seoul.
THAI also expanded its flights from other Thai airports, like Phuket, to cities like Tokyo and Hong Kong.
Towards the end of the 2000s, THAI faced some difficulties. These included high fuel prices and economic problems around the world. In 2008, for the first time in 40 years, Thai Airways reported a loss. The airline worked to improve its situation and returned to profit in 2009.
Fleet Updates and New Routes in the 2010s
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In 2010, for its 50th anniversary, THAI made new plans for its future. This included getting newer planes like the Boeing 787 and Airbus A350. They also updated the inside of their Boeing 747 and 777 planes. To save on fuel, they stopped using older, less efficient planes. THAI received its first Airbus A380 plane in 2012, planning to use it on busy routes to Europe.
THAI also started new flights to Brussels and non-stop flights from Stockholm and Copenhagen to Phuket.
In 2011, THAI began experimental flights using biofuels. This was part of their "Travel Green" program to help the environment. They hoped to encourage more biofuel production in Thailand and reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
In 2015, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) changed Thailand's safety rating. This meant Thai airlines could continue existing flights to the United States but could not start new ones. However, the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) allowed Thai carriers to continue flying to Europe.
In July 2015, THAI stopped its service to Los Angeles, ending its flights to the US. Later, THAI considered flying to other US cities like San Francisco or Seattle, but decided against it due to past losses.
In 2016, THAI improved its flight schedules to make it easier for international passengers to connect through Bangkok. They also announced new routes to Perth and Brisbane in Australia.
Recent Changes in the 2020s
In February 2023, it was announced that Thai Smile, THAI's regional airline, would be fully merged back into Thai Airways by 2024. The last flight of Thai Smile was on December 31, 2023. This change was made to help reduce losses and simplify operations.
Branding and Look
Safety Video
The current safety video was introduced in 2018. It uses images of animals and flowers.
Thai Smile Airline
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Thai Smile was launched in 2012 as a regional airline by THAI. It used smaller Airbus A320-200 planes for flights within Thailand and to nearby countries. By 2016, Thai Smile added new services to cities in India and planned to restart routes to places like Da Nang and Luang Prabang. However, due to financial difficulties, Thai Smile stopped its own operations in 2023, and its planes are now part of THAI Airways.
Plane Designs and Logos
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In 2006, Thai Airways moved its main hub to the new Suvarnabhumi Airport. At the same time, they updated their brand with new plane designs, new seats inside the planes, and improved service on the ground and in the air.
The logo on the tail of the plane shows the traditional Thai greeting gesture, called a wai. The curves in the design are like the decorative parts of traditional Thai temples. The gold color represents Thai temples, magenta is for magnolia flowers, and purple represents the Thai Orchid. This purple color is used throughout the airline, from uniforms to the inside of the cabins.
Special Plane Designs
In 1999, THAI painted a special design of the Royal Barge Suphannahong on two of its Boeing 747-400 planes.
To celebrate the Coronation of King Rama X, Thai Airways used a Boeing 777-300 plane to feature the Suphannahong Royal Barge as its plane design until the end of 2022.
How Thai Airways is Run
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Financial Situation
Thai Airways has faced financial challenges over the years. In 2019, the airline had a net loss. The company has been working on plans to improve its financial health and become profitable again.
In 2020, the Thai government decided to help THAI by allowing it to go through a process called debt restructuring. This means the airline worked with its lenders to create a plan to pay back its debts over time. This process helps the company get back on track. As of 2023, THAI has been working to improve its business operations and financial stability.
Where Thai Airways Flies
Airline Groups
Thai Airways International is a founding member of Star Alliance, which started on May 14, 1997. This group allows passengers to connect easily between different airlines and earn rewards.
Thai Airways International shares flights with many other airlines. This means you can book a flight with THAI, but part of your journey might be on a plane operated by one of these partner airlines:
- Air Canada
- Air India
- Air New Zealand
- All Nippon Airways
- Air Macau
- Asiana Airlines
- Austrian Airlines
- Bangkok Airways
- Brussels Airlines
- Egyptair
- El Al
- Emirates
- EVA Air
- Gulf Air
- Lao Airlines
- Lufthansa
- Malaysia Airlines
- Oman Air
- Pakistan International Airlines
- Royal Brunei Airlines
- Scandinavian Airlines
- Shenzhen Airlines
- Singapore Airlines
- Swiss International Air Lines
- TAP Air Portugal
- Turkish Airlines
- United Airlines
Thai Airways Planes
Thai Airways uses both large and small planes from Airbus and Boeing. As of April 2024, they have 75 planes and have ordered 83 more.
Plane Maintenance Centers
Thai Airways has three places where they fix and maintain planes: at U-Tapao International Airport, Don Mueang International Airport, and Suvarnabhumi Airport. These centers work on THAI's own planes and also planes from other airlines.
Thai Technical
Thai Technical is the part of THAI that handles plane maintenance. It has special certifications from international aviation groups like the Federal Aviation Administration and the European Aviation Safety Agency. This means they meet high standards for safety and quality.
Cleanliness and Safety
Thai Airways has a program called "The Most Hygienic In-Cabin Environment Program." This program focuses on keeping the air clean, surfaces spotless, and food safe on all flights. After each flight, all disposable items are removed, and the cabin equipment is cleaned and disinfected. The air-circulation system is also checked.
THAI was the first airline to use special hospital-grade air filters called True HEPA filters on every flight. These filters can capture almost all dust particles and tiny living things. In 2004, the World Health Organization gave THAI an award for its excellent cabin management system.
What's Inside the Planes
Royal First Class (First Class)
Thai's Royal First Class seats are available on some of their Boeing 777-300ERs. These planes mostly fly to places like London, Tokyo, and Osaka.
Royal Silk Class (Business Class)
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Thai's Royal Silk Class (Business Class) seats are on all of their planes. These seats can recline and offer plenty of space. Newer Royal Silk seats are found on THAI's Boeing 777-300ERs, Boeing 787-8s, and Airbus A350-900s.
Economy Class
Thai's Economy Class seats offer comfortable space. Many planes have personal screens where you can watch movies and TV shows. This includes the Airbus A350-900, Airbus A320-200, Boeing 777-200ER/-300ER, and Boeing 787-8/-9 aircraft.
Royal Orchid Plus (Frequent Flyer Program)
Royal Orchid Plus is THAI's program for frequent flyers. Members can earn miles when they fly with THAI or its partner airlines in the Star Alliance. These miles can be used for free flights or upgrades. There are different levels in the program: Member, Silver, Gold, and Platinum, depending on how many miles you earn.
Sponsorships
Thai Airways has sponsored sports teams and events. For example, they signed an agreement with the English Football League (EFL) in the UK. They also sponsor the Australian Rugby Team Melbourne Rebels and the Australian A-League soccer club Western Sydney Wanderers.
See also
In Spanish: Thai Airways para niños
- List of airlines of Thailand
- Transport in Thailand
