BANGKOK- Starting this coming Monday (April 1, 2024), Thai Airways (TG) plans to almost double its capacity by replacing the narrow-body Airbus A320 aircraft with the wide-body Boeing 777-200 aircraft. This change will increase the seat capacity per flight from the current 168 to 292.
On days when the Boeing 777 is unavailable, the airline may utilize another wide-body aircraft, the Boeing 787-8, which accommodates 256 seats. However, an airline representative mentioned that Kolkata will primarily be served by the Boeing 777 aircraft.
Thai Airways Bangkok-Kolkata Flights
Thai Airways will deploy the larger aircraft on the Bangkok (BKK)-Kolkata (CCU)-Bangkok route from April 1 to April 30.
While the capacity increase aims to capitalize on the heightened summer travel demand, the official expressed hope that the airline will continue using the larger aircraft beyond April.
Thai Airways operated Boeing 777 aircraft on the Bangkok-Kolkata route before the pandemic-induced suspension of flights. Following the relaxation of Covid restrictions and gradual resumption of travel, the airline faced challenges in resuming operations, eventually doing so only after receiving financial assistance from the Thai government.
The Bangkok-Kolkata route, operational since 1960 and the airline’s second-oldest route, resumed service on Oct 16, 2023, initially utilizing narrow-body aircraft. With the airline recording operational profits in the past three quarters after a 13-year period of losses, it has been able to expand its fleet and reinstate older routes that were suspended due to the pandemic.
In addition to reinstating all routes to India, the airline expanded its network by adding Ahmedabad last year and will include Kochi next month.
Executive Remarks
“The demand for reintroducing business class on flights to Kolkata has been acknowledged. The B777 aircraft will feature a configuration of 30 business class seats,” stated the official.
Manav Soni, Chairman (East) of the Travel Agents Association of India, expressed enthusiasm, mentioning that the flight would benefit businessmen and senior citizens. “Many travelers heading to Thailand, South East Asia, West Asia, and Australia will opt for Thai Airways,” he added.
Anil Punjabi, National Committee Member of the Travel Agents Federation of India, highlighted that the larger aircraft would enhance tourist travel to Thailand, a highly favored international holiday destination for residents of Kolkata. “With the provision for visa waiver for Indians in place until May, we anticipate its extension,” he remarked.
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