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Oil Crisis: Thai Lion Air & Nok Air Suspend Flights

Oil Crisis: Thai Lion Air & Nok Air Suspend Flights

Thansettakij•Economy•73d ago

Reader Briefing

Thai Lion Air and Nok Air are temporarily suspending certain flight routes and adjusting their schedules due to escalating oil prices, impacting operations and passengers.

  • •Thai Lion Air and Nok Air are reducing flight services due to the impact of rising oil prices.
  • •Thai Lion Air will temporarily suspend flights to South Korea from Don Mueang to Incheon starting May 9, 2026.
  • •Nok Air is temporarily suspending its Chiang Mai - Udon Thani route throughout April 2026.

Overview

  • •Thai Lion Air prepared to cease service to South Korea, with no flights between Don Mueang (DMK) and Incheon (ICN) starting May 9, 2026.
  • •Thai Lion Air had recently launched the Don Mueang - Incheon route, commencing operations on January 14, 2026, with one flight per day.
  • •Thai Lion Air is scheduled to resume operations on the Don Mueang - Incheon route starting October 1, 2026.
  • •Airlines are adjusting flight schedules and suspending services due to the significant increase in jet fuel (Jet A-1) prices, which have tripled from $80 to over $140 per barrel due to Middle East conflict.
  • •The increase in fuel costs, now representing approximately 30% of flight expenses, is forcing airlines to manage costs by reducing flight frequencies and suspending certain routes, particularly medium-to-long haul ones with higher fuel consumption.
  • •Jet A-1 fuel prices have surged to over $140 per barrel from a previous $80 per barrel.
  • •The CAAT has revealed that Middle Eastern flights are gradually resuming some services to Thailand.
  • •Nok Air has temporarily suspended its Chiang Mai - Udon Thani route, with the route cancelled for the entirety of April 2026.

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Key Quotes

CAAT
"CAAT reveals airlines are gradually reducing flights after Songkran to cope with soaring costs."
CAAT เผยสายการบินทยอยปรับลดเที่ยวบิน หลังสงกรานต์ รับมือต้นทุนพุ่ง

Key Entities

Organization

Thai Lion Air(ไทยไลอ้อนแอร์)ℹ️
An airline that is suspending certain flight routes and adjusting its schedule due to rising oil prices.
Nok Air(นกแอร์)ℹ️
An airline that is temporarily suspending its Chiang Mai - Udon Thani route due to rising oil prices.
Thai AirAsia(ไทยแอร์เอเชีย)ℹ️
An airline that has announced adjustments to flight schedules and service suspensions for some routes due to rising oil prices.
Thai AirAsia X(ไทยแอร์เอเชีย เอ็กซ์)ℹ️
An airline that has announced adjustments to flight schedules and service suspensions for some routes due to rising oil prices.
CAATℹ️
The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand, which has commented on airlines adjusting flight schedules due to rising costs.

Place

Don Mueang(ดอนเมือง)ℹ️
The airport from which Thai Lion Air will temporarily cease service to South Korea.
Incheon(อินชอน)ℹ️
The destination in South Korea where Thai Lion Air will temporarily cease service.
Seoul(กรุงโซล)ℹ️
The capital city of South Korea, from which Thai Lion Air will suspend flights.
Chiang Mai(เชียงใหม่)ℹ️
A departure city for a temporarily suspended Nok Air route.
Udon Thani(อุดรธานี)ℹ️
A destination city for a temporarily suspended Nok Air route.
Israel(อิสราเอล)ℹ️
A country that has announced 'airspace closure' until April 16.

CalendarYear

2026
The Thai Buddhist Era year mentioned for upcoming flight schedule changes and route suspensions.
69
The abbreviated Thai Buddhist Era year used for the suspension of the Chiang Mai - Udon Thani route.

Timeline

Summer 2026(ฤดูร้อน 2026)
The flight schedule period for which airlines are adjusting services and suspending some routes.