Aviation News
Stay updated with the latest aviation news at The Thaiger, your ultimate source for industry information. Keep informed on airline updates, airport developments, and travel trends across the globe.
Our comprehensive coverage ensures you’re always in the loop, with up-to-date articles and expert insights. Whether you’re a frequent flyer, aviation enthusiast, or industry professional, The Thaiger’s aviation news page is your essential guide to navigating the ever-evolving world of air travel. Immerse yourself in the dynamic community and latest advancements with our expertly curated content, designed to keep you connected and well-informed.
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Riyadh Air launches direct Bangkok flights
Thailand has secured a new direct air route from Saudi Arabia after Riyadh Air launched its first Riyadh-to-Bangkok service on September 3, part of a wider push to draw more high-spending visitors from the Middle East. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) welcomed the inaugural flight at Suvarnabhumi International Airport, calling the new connection a boost for a market it…
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Air India flight AI2379 hydraulic failure prompts pilot drug review
AAIB's preliminary report on the Phuket-Delhi flight links the hydraulic failure to a non-negative pilot drug test, prompting a DGCA referral and fleet-wide voluntary testing.
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Udon Thani Airport officially gains international status
Udon Thani Airport officially gained international airport status today, September 4, after being added to Thailand’s list of airports permitted to handle international flights. The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) issued a new announcement establishing the country’s airports authorised to provide international flight services, replacing the previous list. The addition of Udon Thani brings the total number of airports…
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Thai AirAsia scales up Phuket capacity for peak season
Thai AirAsia will add flights to and from Phuket during the fourth quarter of 2026, as the airline prepares for an expected rebound in domestic tourism over the high season. The airline will scale up its domestic network to a maximum of 135 flights per day between October and December. That is more than 50% above the peak average of…
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Thai Airways breaks into the world’s top 10 airlines for 2026
Travel + Leisure has published its World’s Best Awards 2026 results for the best international airlines, and Thai Airways International has made the global top 10. The ranking places the Thai national carrier tenth in the world, a result that reflects the airline’s ongoing recovery following years of business rehabilitation. The survey behind the ranking drew more than 207,000 readers…
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Thai Airways issues advisory as Typhoon Saudel nears Taipei, Shanghai
Passengers booked on Thursday and Friday flights to Taipei and Shanghai have been told to check their schedules as Typhoon Saudel approaches the region.
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Chiang Mai-Mae Hong Son flights could be dropped, operator says
Ezy Airlines has scrapped plans to launch flights between Chiang Mai and Mae Hong Son, along with other routes across northern Thailand, after Chiang Mai International Airport set an aircraft parking fee that the carrier says it cannot absorb. Sources in the aviation industry confirmed the move to MGR Online yesterday, August 24. The airline, operated by M-Landarch Co., Ltd.,…
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Landing gear fails to retract on Thai Airways flight
A Thai Airways flight bound for Bangkok was forced to turn back to Frankfurt yesterday, August 21, after declaring an in-flight emergency over a landing gear fault. Flight TG921 departed Frankfurt Airport in Germany at 12.34pm local time on its scheduled route to Bangkok. Around 38 minutes into the flight, the crew transmitted a squawk 7700 signal, the international code…
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Chinese woman hospitalised after Kuala Lumpur Airport outburst
A Chinese tourist was taken to hospital for psychiatric treatment after causing a disturbance at Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Malaysia. The incident happened at Terminal 1 yesterday, August 18. Malaysian police said they received a report at about 1.19pm concerning a foreign woman who was running, singing, dancing and shouting in the departure hall, disturbing other passengers. A 22-second…
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Ezy Airlines postpones 3 northern Thailand routes, waiting for airport approval
Ezy Airlines postponed the launch of its Chiang Mai-Mae Hong Son, Chiang Mai-Pai, and Chiang Mai-Nan routes indefinitely while awaiting approval from Chiang Mai International Airport. The airline had originally planned to open ticket bookings for the three northern routes on August 17, but the plan was delayed as Ezy Airlines has not yet received approval from Chiang Mai Airport.…
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Vietnam overtakes Thailand in flight capacity race
Thailand has fallen to No.3 in Southeast Asia’s flight seat rankings for the second consecutive month, with Vietnam overtaking the kingdom on rising domestic demand. OAG’s August report found Vietnam’s flight capacity rose 10% year-on-year to 7.27 million seats, holding onto No.2 after first overtaking Thailand in July. Vietnam’s domestic capacity alone jumped 13.8% to more than 4.7 million seats.…
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Thailand upgrades air traffic management ahead of busy 2026
Thailand’s air navigation service provider is progressing six priority initiatives to strengthen aviation safety, modernise air traffic management and support a projected 919,643 flights in the 2026 fiscal year, according to the Aeronautical Radio of Thailand (Aerothai). The initiatives include weather radar integration, the rollout of digital and remote air traffic control towers, next-generation aviation information systems, and sustainability programmes…
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Thai AirAsia Suvarnabhumi routes paused amid fuel cost hit
Thai AirAsia will suspend all flights from Suvarnabhumi International Airport (BKK) from July 15 to September 30, before resuming operations from the airport on October 1, as part of a wider adjustment to its flight network. All nine domestic routes the airline had been operating from Suvarnabhumi will be paused for the period. Flights on these routes will instead run…
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Thailand airports to allow baggage inspections without passengers
The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) will introduce new rules allowing security officers to open checked baggage without passengers present if X-ray screening detects potentially dangerous items. The regulations take effect on October 16. The new rules apply to checked baggage and are intended to strengthen airport security in line with international standards. Under the regulations, security officers may…
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Tourist Police reviews security at Suvarnabhumi ahead of summer holiday
Tourist Police have stepped up security at Suvarnabhumi Airport ahead of the international summer holiday season, increasing patrols and coordinating with airport agencies to strengthen safety measures for arriving visitors. The inspection took place at 1pm on July 17 as officers reviewed security operations and passenger assistance services at Thailand’s busiest airport. The move is intended to boost traveller confidence…
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Ryanair window blows off mid-flight over Greece
A Ryanair flight from Thessaloniki, Greece, to Memmingen, Germany, was forced to turn back yesterday, July 10, after a cabin window came loose mid-air, nearly pulling a passenger out of the aircraft. The Serbian man, believed to be around 60 years old, had his head and shoulders pulled towards the opening for several minutes before fellow passengers managed to haul…
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Thailand woos Middle East travellers with new Dubai flight
Thailand has launched a new direct flight route between Dubai and Bangkok with airline flydubai, as the government looks to draw more high-spending tourists from the Middle East. Deputy Government Spokesperson Ploythalay Laksamisaengchan said the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) partnered with flydubai, with the inaugural Dubai to Bangkok flight beginning service on July 1. TAT will follow up with…
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Udon Thani airport eyes Indochina aviation hub with new routes
The Transport Ministry said yesterday, June 2, that it is moving ahead with plans to develop Udon Thani airport into an aviation hub for the Indochina region by supporting new international routes and closer cooperation with Thai VietJet Air. Deputy Transport Minister Phattrapong Phattraprasit chaired a meeting with Department of Airports (DOA) officials and Thai VietJet Air executives to discuss…
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Belarus airline launches direct Minsk to Bangkok flights
Belavia, Belarus’ national carrier, will launch its first direct flights between Minsk and Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport from October 25, 2026, providing a non-stop connection between Belarus and Thailand. The carrier announced the new Minsk to Bangkok service will operate every Sunday using an Airbus A330-200 wide-body aircraft. The airline said the new route will eliminate the need for passengers to…
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Thailand airports set for major expansion through 2034
Airports of Thailand (AOT) has announced a series of expansion projects for its airports as part of a long-term plan to increase passenger capacity, improve facilities and strengthen Thailand’s position as a World-Class Aviation Hub. The projects, announced ahead of AOT’s 47th anniversary on July 1, include new terminals, expanded passenger facilities and infrastructure upgrades scheduled for completion between 2031…
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Chinese man caught after attempting to steal 400,000 baht from Thai man
A Thai businessman shared his experience of catching a Chinese thief on a flight to Hong Kong and retrieving stolen cash worth nearly 400,000 baht. Anuchart Rojpitipongsathon, owner of an auto parts business named SSC Autoparts, posted details of the incident on his business’s official Facebook page to warn travellers about theft during flights. According to Anuchart, the incident took place…
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Travellers urged to declare Thai herbal inhalers upon arrival
Travellers heading to Australia are required to declare Thai inhalers as some popular herbal inhalers may contain plant species of concern. Australian Biosecurity posted a warning on its official Facebook page on June 19, featuring a popular Thai herbal inhaler under the Hong Thai brand. In the post, officials wrote… “Herbal inhalers found at Cairns Airport contained six plant species…
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ANA tightens personal item rules from July 1 as Japan airlines standardise cabin baggage
All Nippon Airways (ANA) will introduce a fixed size limit for personal items carried onto its flights from July 1, 2026, replacing a vague guideline that has been in place for years and catching out passengers who travel with large handbags, laptop cases or small backpacks. Personal items on ANA Group-operated flights must not exceed 40cm x 30cm x 20cm…
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Thailand could gain 11 new international routes after airline talks
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…
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Honey seizure allegedly leads foreigner’s Bangkok airport complaint
A foreign tourist drew attention online after posting a Bangkok airport complaint on social media, criticising airport facilities and alleging poor service while urging others to reconsider travelling to Thailand. The man shared his experience on Threads, posting an image of a passenger terminal floor that appeared damaged with a caption that read… “Bangkok airport is absolute crap! Singapore’s Changi…
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CAAT bans in-flight use of power banks on aircraft
The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) today, June 4, issued new rules governing the carriage of power banks on aircraft, introducing stricter safety requirements to reduce risks associated with lithium batteries. The measures are intended to strengthen aviation safety and align local standards with International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) guidelines. The new regulation, No. 122 on the carriage of…
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Thai Airways welcomes first female pilot after 66 years
Thai Airways celebrated a milestone in its history after its first female pilot operated her inaugural commercial flight on the Bangkok-Hanoi route on Monday, June 1. The airline announced the achievement through its official THAI Corporate Communications Facebook page, highlighting Pannathon “Bam” Thanrungrueangchai’s first commercial flight as a pilot with the national carrier. According to Naewna, Pannathon is the first…
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Thailand aviation hub push drives airport upgrades, flight routes
Thailand is ramping up airport upgrades and expanding domestic and international flight routes as part of a broader push to establish itself as an aviation hub and regional centre for travel, tourism, and investment. Deputy government spokesperson Lalida Persvivatana said the strategy aims to improve connectivity between major cities and emerging destinations while strengthening the country’s long-term aviation and logistics…
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AirAsia CEO warns airport fee hike could be ‘disaster’ for Thai tourism
AirAsia founder and CEO Tony Fernandes has opposed Airports of Thailand’s (AOT) proposed increase to the international passenger service charge (PSC), warning that higher airport fees could damage Thailand’s tourism industry during a difficult period for global aviation. Fernandes, chief executive officer of Capital A, said the timing was inappropriate as airlines worldwide continue to face pressure from rising fuel…
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Questions raised over public viewing of Suvarnabhumi Airport checkpoint cameras
Concerns over passenger privacy emerged online after social media users questioned the public accessibility of CCTV footage at immigration checkpoints in Suvarnabhumi International Airport. The issue gained attention after a Thai X user criticised Airports of Thailand (AOT) when footage of a popular actor at the immigration checkpoint was circulated online. The user questioned whether sharing footage from security cameras violated…
