Thai Airways Confirms No Plans to Resume Direct US Flights Amid Ongoing Tariff Discussions
CEO Chai Eamsiri addresses fleet capabilities and market risks during the Reuters NEXT Asia summit.
Thai Airways International has officially stated that it has no immediate plans to resume direct flights to the United States, despite recent upgrades in the air safety rating of Thailand by U.S. authorities.
CEO Chai Eamsiri announced this decision while speaking at the Reuters NEXT Asia summit held in Singapore on Wednesday.
Chai emphasized that the airline's current fleet lacks the capability to operate long-haul flights to the U.S. efficiently.
Furthermore, he characterized the U.S. market as a significant risk in the context of ongoing tariff negotiations between Thailand and the United States.
Thai Airways ceased its operations to the United States in 2015, a move that coincided with the downgrading of Thailand’s air safety rating by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to Category 2.
This downgrade restricted Thai airlines from initiating or expanding services to the U.S.
During the same conference, Chai also discussed the airline's existing purchasing options with Boeing, indicating that additional aircraft acquisitions from the manufacturer could serve as a factor in the ongoing tariff discussions with the U.S. government.
The dynamics of these negotiations have implications not only for Thai Airways but also for broader trade relations between Thailand and the United States.
CEO Chai Eamsiri announced this decision while speaking at the Reuters NEXT Asia summit held in Singapore on Wednesday.
Chai emphasized that the airline's current fleet lacks the capability to operate long-haul flights to the U.S. efficiently.
Furthermore, he characterized the U.S. market as a significant risk in the context of ongoing tariff negotiations between Thailand and the United States.
Thai Airways ceased its operations to the United States in 2015, a move that coincided with the downgrading of Thailand’s air safety rating by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to Category 2.
This downgrade restricted Thai airlines from initiating or expanding services to the U.S.
During the same conference, Chai also discussed the airline's existing purchasing options with Boeing, indicating that additional aircraft acquisitions from the manufacturer could serve as a factor in the ongoing tariff discussions with the U.S. government.
The dynamics of these negotiations have implications not only for Thai Airways but also for broader trade relations between Thailand and the United States.
