Thai Airways International is set to reintroduce nine domestic routes that were previously operated by its low-cost subsidiary, Thai Smile, as part of its winter flight schedule spanning from October 2023 to March 2024.
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GLOThai Airways International is set to reintroduce nine domestic routes that were previously operated by its low-cost subsidiary, Thai Smile, as part of its winter flight schedule spanning from October 2023 to March 2024.
Operating from its primary hub at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport, Thai Airways will provide flights to Krabi (KBV), Khon Kaen (KKC), Phuket (HKT), Narathiwat (NAW), Chiang Mai (CNX), Chiang Rai (CEI), Hat Yai (HDY), Udon Thani (UTH), and Ubon Ratchathani (UBP) utilizing A320 aircraft.
Among these nine routes, it’s worth noting that both Thai Airways and Thai Smile have previously offered services to Chiang Mai, Krabi, and Phuket.
2023
Bangkok-Chiang Mai, five flights daily, starting 29 October 2023.
Bangkok-Phuket, eight flights daily, starting 1 December 2023.
Bangkok-Udon Thani, three flights daily, starting 1 December 2023
2024
Bangkok-Krabi, two flights daily, starting 1 January 2024.
Bangkok-Khon Kaen, four flights daily, starting 1 January 2024.
Bangkok-Narathiwat, one flight daily starting 1 January 2024.
Bangkok-Chiang Rai, two flights daily starting 1 January 2024.
Bangkok-Hat Yai, three flights daily, starting 1 January 2024.
Bangkok-Ubon Ratchathani, two flights daily starting 1 January 2024.
Thai Smile is in the process of winding down its operations and is preparing for a merger with its parent airline, which is expected to take place in early 2024. In 2022, Thai Smile had an extensive network comprising 16 destinations within Thailand and 14 regional destinations in Asia, all served by A320 aircraft. The low-cost carrier commenced operations on July 7, 2012, primarily focusing on domestic and regional routes within the capacity of Boeing 737s and A320s. This strategic move allowed Thai Airways to concentrate on long-haul international routes, positioning itself as the country’s premier national airline using wide-bodied aircraft, including six A380s that are currently listed for sale.
A report by Thaiger, a local online news service, indicates that Thai Smile is planning to discontinue its daily service from Bangkok to Surat Thani by the end of November. However, it’s worth noting that flights for this route are still available for booking on the Thai Airways International website, which displays Thai Smile as the operating carrier.
Source: TTR Weekly
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