Yay! Thai Airways A320s Getting Business Class And Wifi
Intro
There is a big development coming to my favorite airline in the world, as their smallest jet is set to finally receive a big upgrade. For those unaware, Thai Airways operates a sub-fleet of 20 A320s (19 in service) that operate intra-Asian flights to markets that don't feature widebody capacity. While this is good for customers as a whole, it also means that those looking to fly in business class previously didn't have the opportunity to do so. That has now changed.
Interestingly, I was just about to book two flights onboard Thai's A320s from Yangon-Bangkok-Taipei.
The Details
As of January 2025, Thai Airways will begin retrofitting their ex-Thai Smile A320 fleet with brand new cabins, including business class. The jet 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, featuring a decent 38 inches of pitch, and 5 inches of recline.
In addition, Thai Airways will also be adding Wifi to the A320s.
My Thoughts
With a lot of intra-Asian carriers opting to install lie flat beds on their narrowbodies in business class, some might wonder why Thai Airways hasn't done the same. I have to say that I agree with Thai Airways' decision to install recliner seats on the A320s for one reason: they don't serve high-yield premium markets.
Thai Airways has long done a good job of using widebody jets across markets where there is premium demand, such as Hong Kong and Bali, and thus, when they are serving shorter, fewer premium routes, such as Yangon or Phnom Penh, recliners are adequate.
Thai Airways has had a fantastic recovery and is even looking to grow its fleet with over 30 widebodies in the coming years. However, the one letdown that they have had is gaining some connecting traffic due to the inability to book business classes for both legs. By adding business class to the A320, passengers will be able to choose business class on any flight when available.
Final Thoughts
This is an exciting announcement for Thai Airways. As it begins soon, passengers will be able to book business class on any Thai Airways flight due to the A320s getting a retrofit. Thai Airways is on the up, and this is just another reason why I see them becoming one of the staple airlines again in Asia within the next 5-10 years.
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