Thai Airways expands Bangkok hub strategy with more flights

Dhaka: Thai Airways International is expanding its Bangkok hub strategy as the carrier prepares to operate 998 weekly flights across 66 routes during the 2026-27 winter schedule.

The airline’s new “Silk Hub” initiative is designed to increase connecting traffic through Suvarnabhumi Airport, linking regional markets with its long-haul network.

Kittiphong Sansomboon, Thai Airways’ chief commercial officer, said Southeast Asia would provide feeder traffic through Airbus A320 and A321neo aircraft, while India and China would remain key markets. India alone is expected to account for about 98 weekly flights.

Long-haul services from Europe and Australia will feed additional passengers into Bangkok for onward connections.

The winter schedule runs from October 25, 2026, through March 27, 2027. New services include Bangkok-Danang, launching December 1 with 14 weekly flights, while flights to Xiamen will resume at four per week.

The airline will also increase frequencies to Paris, Zurich and Munich, as well as Vientiane, Yangon and Siem Reap.

Kittiphong said bookings for the winter period are ahead of last year, with stronger demand in premium cabins despite softer economy-class performance. He said the airline would continue emphasizing pricing and capacity discipline rather than pursuing fuller cabins at the expense of revenue quality.

THAI is also launching Junior Sky Explorers for its more than 300,000 annual child passengers.