Thai Airways looks likely to resume Auckland services by Mar, after the visiting Thailand prime minister flagged the plans as part of a new trade deal signed in Auckland on Fri.
While there are no confirmed restart plans as yet, there are stronger signs that the services will actually restart this summer.
Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon signed a Joint Declaration on the Strategic Partnership on Fri.
In addition to a targeted $13.5 billion in trade by 2045, the Thai prime minister confirmed that ‘[TG] plans to resume direct flights between Bangkok and Auckland by Mar 2027, supporting tourism, trade, and investment’, with Charnvirakul pushing for an even earlier launch.
. . . Luxon: Great News
Luxon has welcomed TG’s planned resumption of direct flights “[TG] served Auckland for more than 30 years before the C-19 pandemic interrupted the service. Its return is great news for tourism and trade—making it easier to connect, restoring an important air-freight link and strengthening connections through Bangkok to wider Asia,” he says. With the backing of the political heavyweights, there’s renewed excitement at a trade level about the return of direct Auckland-Bangkok flights
. . . From TG
At the same time TG has hinted that there may be more service details out shortly. “We are actively reviewing the recommencement of services to Auckland and hope to be confirming details in the near future,” says TG’s commercial manager New Zealand Nigel Taylor.
. . . Industry Hopeful
The addition of the TG AKL-BKK flights will be welcomed by both FIT travellers to South East Asia, and those travelling on to UK/Europe, especially given the Middle East uncertainty, say retail chain sources. Southeast Asia is a good value destination for Kiwis, and some groups say their Thailand sales are up year-on-year.
Auckland Airport says it would welcome the return of TG’s AKL-BKK direct flights.
“We remain in regular contact with [TG] and look forward to the airline restarting services when the timing is right for them,” it says
