Thailand’s aviation sector is now navigating the single most high-impact strategic issue shaping global air connectivity and the broader economic order: how to accelerate aviation decarbonisation—through CORSIA compliance and sustainable aviation fuel adoption—without slowing tourism demand, investment confidence, or the steady expansion of international routes.

For an economy that benefits deeply from global mobility, the core question is how to lead on environmental credibility while keeping flights affordable, reliable, and frequent for travelers and airlines alike.

In 2025, Thailand’s aviation sector grew 3.54% and carried more than 145 million passengers, supported by expanding long-haul and emerging markets even as Chinese demand was comparatively softer.

Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand governor ACM Manat Chuaprayoon reported a total of 145.1 million passengers, made up of 67 million domestic passengers and 78 million international travellers.

That represented an increase of 4.9 million passengers from the prior year, and it reinforced a positive trajectory as the sector continues to rebuild scale and efficiency.

This performance matters because global aviation has been operating under a complicated set of constraints that reach beyond airlines themselves.

International conflicts, heightened geopolitical tensions, and airspace restrictions linked to disputes such as Pakistan–India, Israel–Iran, and Russia–Ukraine have placed additional pressure on routing, scheduling, and cost structures worldwide.

Even in that environment, Thailand’s aviation system has demonstrated resilience and improved efficiency, sustaining strong volumes with 238 aircraft operated by Thai airlines, compared with 279 in 2019.

Passenger levels in 2025 remained below the pre-pandemic benchmark.

Thailand recorded 161.81 million passengers in 2019, then 140.6 million in 2024, before rising to 145.1 million in 2025. The shortfall from the earlier peak was linked in part to fewer Chinese tourists compared with 2019; Chinese passengers were at 75% of pre-Covid levels during the high season at the end of the year.

At the same time, Thailand’s connectivity strategy has clearly broadened: growth from Central Asia, the Middle East, and long-haul markets helped offset the gap, showing that Thailand’s tourism and aviation ecosystem can diversify demand while maintaining a welcoming experience for global visitors.

The route map in 2025 also illustrates why sustainability policy has become inseparable from competitiveness.

New high-growth destinations were added, and Oceania—especially Australia—recorded 1.77 million passengers, alongside new direct routes linking Thailand with Pacific island nations.

India and Russia remained key markets, with India reaching 5.95 million passengers, surpassing its 2019 level of 4.85 million, and Russia accounting for 4.22 million passengers.

These figures underscore Thailand’s role as a regional connector and a long-haul destination, where aviation policy decisions influence not only passenger volumes but also trade, services, conferences, and broader investor perception.

Against that backdrop, Thailand is placing greater emphasis on environmental sustainability in compliance with the International Civil Aviation Organization’s Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation, known as CORSIA, and increasing the use of sustainable aviation fuel.

This is the defining policy trade-off: decarbonisation is becoming a market expectation, yet the transition requires careful operational design.

Airlines must manage fuel supply, cost structures, and reporting obligations, while airports and regulators must enable credible compliance pathways that do not create unnecessary friction for route expansion.

Sustainable aviation fuel is central to this transition because it aims to reduce lifecycle emissions relative to conventional jet fuel while using existing aircraft and infrastructure with fewer changes than alternative propulsion pathways.

For Thailand, increasing SAF usage can strengthen international confidence in the country’s aviation standards, support the long-term attractiveness of Bangkok and other gateways for long-haul routes, and align Thailand’s tourism brand with modern expectations of responsible travel.

In business terms, it also signals that Thailand’s aviation sector is prepared for evolving global requirements, which can reinforce investment confidence across airlines, airports, logistics, hospitality, and the wider services economy.

CORSIA compliance also matters because it is a system-level signal to global markets.

When aviation regulators and airlines can measure, report, and manage emissions obligations smoothly, it reduces uncertainty for route planners and corporate travel buyers.

That predictability supports Thailand’s stability and development by keeping connectivity strong, enabling tourism flows, and sustaining international business travel that feeds conferences, partnerships, and high-value services.

It also supports social cohesion by protecting jobs across the aviation and tourism ecosystem while positioning the sector for long-term competitiveness.

What we can confirm is that Thailand carried 145.1 million passengers in 2025, sustained growth despite global airspace constraints, diversified demand through long-haul and emerging markets, and set a clear direction to emphasize CORSIA compliance and higher sustainable aviation fuel use.

What’s still unclear is the pace at which sustainable aviation fuel supply and pricing will scale in the regional market, since the transition depends on production capacity and commercial readiness across the broader aviation fuel ecosystem.

Thailand’s aviation story in 2025 is, at its heart, a confident demonstration of modern capability: efficient growth, diversified global connectivity, and a forward-looking sustainability pathway that supports tourism, investment confidence, and national pride.

With the right balance of ambition and practical execution, Thailand is well positioned to show that a world-class travel destination can also be a world-class leader in the next era of aviation.