Thai Airways to restore Bangkok-Auckland flights before 2028

Prachachat•Politics•4d ago

Reader Briefing

The Thai government is accelerating the restoration of Thai Airways' direct flights between Bangkok and Auckland, potentially before the original 2028 plan.

•Thai Airways aims to resume direct flights from Bangkok to Auckland, possibly by March 2027.
•Ekniti Nitithanprapas is coordinating with Auckland Airport for early slot reservations.
•The Thai government is exploring a Code-share agreement between Thai Airways and Air New Zealand.

Overview

•Anutin Charnvirakul informed the Prime Minister of New Zealand that flights would open in March 2027, with efforts to expedite the process further.
•Ekniti Nitithanprapas stated that direct flights will enhance convenience for business, tourism, trade, and people-to-people relations between Thailand and New Zealand.
•Ekniti Nitithanprapas assigned the Permanent Secretary for Finance to coordinate with Auckland Airport management regarding flight slot allocations.
•Thai Airways and Air New Zealand are both members of the Star Alliance, facilitating a potential Code-share cooperation.
•Christopher Luxon, the Prime Minister of New Zealand, previously served as the CEO of Air New Zealand.
•The restoration of the Bangkok-Auckland route is viewed as a mechanism to support economic cooperation in tourism, agriculture, food, clean energy, and investment.

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Source: Prachachat (Original)

Key Quotes

Ekniti Nitithanprapas

"We see the opportunity to work together in the form of a Code-share rather than viewing it as competition, because it will benefit both parties as a Win-win."

เราเห็นโอกาสที่จะทำงานร่วมกันในลักษณะ Code-share มากกว่าการมองเป็นการแข่งขัน เพราะจะเกิดประโยชน์ทั้ง 2 ฝ่าย เป็น Win-win และช่วยให้การเดินทาง การค้า การลงทุน และการท่องเที่ยวระหว่างไทยกับนิวซีแลนด์เชื่อมถึงกันได้สะดวกขึ้น

Key Entities

Organization

Thai Airways(การบินไทย)ℹ️

The airline preparing to restore direct flights between Bangkok and Auckland.

Air New Zealandℹ️

A New Zealand airline and Star Alliance member considered for a Code-share partnership with Thai Airways.

NZAeroℹ️

A small aircraft company whose facilities were visited by Ekniti Nitithanprapas.

Auckland Airport(ท่าอากาศยานโอ๊คแลนด์)ℹ️

The airport management entity coordinating flight slot allocations.

Star Allianceℹ️

The airline group of which both Thai Airways and Air New Zealand are members.

Person

Ekniti Nitithanprapas(เอกนิติ นิติทัณฑ์ประภาศ)ℹ️

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance of Thailand.

Anutin Charnvirakul(อนุทิน ชาญวีรกูล)ℹ️

Prime Minister and Minister of Interior of Thailand.

Christopher Luxon(คริสโตเฟอร์ ลักซอน)ℹ️

The Prime Minister of New Zealand and former CEO of Air New Zealand.

Place

Bangkok(กรุงเทพฯ)ℹ️

The departure city for the direct flights to Auckland.

Auckland(โอ๊คแลนด์)ℹ️

The destination city in New Zealand for the direct flights from Bangkok.

Ardmore Airport(ท่าอากาศยาน Ardmore)

The location of NZAero's aircraft hangar in Auckland.

New Zealand(นิวซีแลนด์)ℹ️

The country cooperating with Thailand on aviation and economic ties.