Thailand Gains Category 1 Rating Again: Direct Flights Coming Soon??!
- Konrad Tillman
- 4 days ago
- 2 min read
Intro
I don't think I have ever been this excited about an announcement in my life, as Thailand has just regained a category 1 rating under the FAA regulations. Yesss!
The Details
Before 2015, airlines in Thailand were deemed to be in the category 1 level by the FAA. However, in 2015, this soon switched since the FAA downgraded the country to a level 2 safety rating. Supposedly, there were some areas where the country didn't meet the regulated safety standards to receive a category 1.
Well, as of today, Thailand is now back in the category 1 rating, meaning they are deemed to be all of the protocols. But what does this mean??
Direct Flights Soon?
The tourism business has been booming, to put it lightly, in Thailand since the reopening after the pandemic. While Thai Airways used to fly direct on an A340-500 from Bangkok to Los Angeles, the economics simply didn't work on the flight. However, with new and updated aircraft, Thai Airways might be able to make this ultra-long-haul route work!
But will they operate non-stop flights to the United States? There are a couple of things to be aware of:
Thai Airways currently has an aircraft shortage, with plenty of 787s on backorder until a few years from now when a rumoured new business class is coming.
The airline would have to focus on bringing in point to point traffic mainly, as if you are heading elsewhere in Southeast Asia, there are a number of carriers you can take, most often with shorter overall travel times.
Most of the tourism market in Thailand isn't high-yield travel, but mainly backpackers and people not willing to splurge on business class. Obviously, if Thai Airways were to install more premium seats, it would be easier to operate the route nonstop.
So, do I think direct flights are coming? Yes, but it is not going to happen overnight. In my opinion, it could be at least a year or more before we see nonstop flights once again between the two countries.
Final Thoughts
Thailand has recently regained a category 1 safety record from the FAA, which will open up a world of opportunity for not just Thai Airways but the whole country. I reckon we might see non-stop flights returning sooner rather than later.
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