Live: Thai Airways A320 Business Class
Intro
A while ago, I wrote about how Thai Airways planned to retrofit their 20 ex-Thai Smile A320s with a proper business-class cabin. Usually, retrofits seem to take a little bit of time, but I am currently seeing that the first few planes are active!
The Details
Thai Airways seems to have a couple of A320s in service that now feature a proper business class seat with reclining chairs. While we won't expect to see the whole fleet retrofitted until the second quarter of 2025, it is exciting to see that a few of the planes are already in service.
The new business class seats look fantastic, resembling the Thai Airways color schemes with a combined look of sleekness.
The details of the retrofit are as follows:
The A320s will go from 169-174 economy seats to 12 business class seats and 144 economy seats. Business Class seats will be laid out in a 2-2 configuration across three rows, featuring 38 inches of pitch and 5 inches of recline.
Additionally, these new jets feature onboard wifi, for free, of course 😉. No IFE screens are provided onboard, but passengers will be able to stream for free.
I am currently seeing a couple of routes operating business class on the A3420, including but not limited to Hanoi, Phuket, and Chiang Mai.
My Thoughts
I have a couple of thoughts surrounding my favorite airline in the world adding business class to their only narrowbody jets.
Firstly, I have to say that I am impressed not just with how quickly they have gotten the ball rolling but also with how sleek these cabins look. Now, with these colorways, I would have to imagine that we might see a new business class coming to the 787s that they have ordered in this colorway.
Secondly, this is a huge step up for Thai Airways to begin its quest to become competitive in SE Asia again. It is proven that certain passengers get driven away when one leg is booked into premium economy and the other one is booked into First Class.
For example, a high-spending person wants to fly from Yangon to London in first class. There are two main Star Alliance options to do this with the following examples:
Singapore Airlines Yangon-Singapore (Business Max 8)-London (Singapore First Class Suites).
Thai Airways Yangon-Bangkok (premium economy A320)-London (Thai Airways First Class).
Final Thoughts
If you have an upcoming flight on a Thai Airways narrowbody, you find yourself on a newer plane featuring their brand new A320 Business Class recliner seats. I am unaware if those booked into premium economy would automatically be upgraded to business? As of now, there seem to be only 3-4 routes operating with these refreshed cabins, but judging by the schedule, a lot more aircraft should be refurbished by the 1st of March 2025. Good on you, Thai Airways!
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