Thai Airways Rules Out Resuming Direct U.S. Flights Despite FAA Upgrade

Key Takeaways

• Thai Airways will not resume direct U.S. flights despite FAA upgrading Thailand’s safety rating to Category 1 in 2025.
• The airline cites fleet limitations, market risk due to 36% tariffs, and focus on financial recovery as reasons.
• New Boeing 787-9 jets ordered; trade talks aim to reduce tariffs affecting Thai exports to the U.S.

Thai Airways International has confirmed it will not resume direct flights between Thailand 🇹🇭 and the United States 🇺🇸, even after the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) restored Thailand’s air safety rating to Category 1. This decision, announced by CEO Chai Eamsiri on July 9, 2025, at the Reuters NEXT Asia summit in Singapore, affects travelers, businesses, and the aviation industry on both sides of the Pacific. The move comes as Thai Airways focuses on financial recovery and efficiency, while Thailand faces new trade challenges with the United States 🇺🇸.

Why Thai Airways Is Not Restarting Direct U.S. Flights

Despite the FAA’s upgrade, which now allows Thai airlines to operate new or expanded routes to the United States 🇺🇸, Thai Airways has decided not to bring back direct flights for several reasons:

• Fleet Limitations: The airline’s current fleet is not suitable for long-haul flights to the United States 🇺🇸. Thai Airways does not have enough modern, fuel-efficient planes that can make the journey profitable.
• Market Risk: CEO Chai Eamsiri called the U.S. market a “big risk.” Ongoing tariff talks between Thailand 🇹🇭 and the United States 🇺🇸 create uncertainty for the airline’s business plans.
• Strategic Focus: Thai Airways is concentrating on routes that are more profitable and easier to manage. The airline is operating at about 75% of its pre-pandemic seat capacity but is earning more revenue than before COVID-19.

Background: FAA Safety Upgrade and Its Impact

The FAA downgraded Thailand 🇹🇭 to Category 2 in 2015, which meant Thai airlines could not open new routes or expand service to the United States 🇺🇸. Thai Airways stopped its direct U.S. flights that year. After years of work to improve safety standards, Thailand 🇹🇭 regained Category 1 status in early 2025. This upgrade was a major achievement, as it signaled that Thailand’s aviation system now meets international safety standards.

With the Category 1 rating, Thai airlines can again apply for direct flights to the United States 🇺🇸. However, as reported by VisaVerge.com, Thai Airways has chosen not to take this step for now, citing business and operational reasons.

Fleet and Trade Issues: The Boeing Deal

In February 2024, Thai Airways ordered 45 Boeing 787-9 wide-body jets, with options to buy 35 more. These new planes are designed for long-haul routes and could, in theory, make direct flights to the United States 🇺🇸 possible in the future. However, the airline’s decision to hold off on direct U.S. flights is tied to broader trade talks between Thailand 🇹🇭 and the United States 🇺🇸.

A 36% tariff on Thai products is set to take effect on August 1, 2025. Thailand’s government, led by Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira, is discussing the purchase of more Boeing planes as part of a deal to avoid these steep tariffs. The hope is that buying more American-made aircraft will help Thailand 🇹🇭 secure better trade terms for its exports to the United States 🇺🇸.

Financial Recovery and Restructuring

Thai Airways has just exited a major bankruptcy-protected debt restructuring program. Since 2021, the airline has cut its workforce by half and reduced its fleet size, working to recover from 400 billion baht in debt. The airline expects to resume trading its shares on the stock market by early August 2025.

CEO Chai Eamsiri has stressed that Thai Airways is now more efficient and financially stable than before the pandemic. The airline is focused on keeping costs low and making the most of its existing routes, rather than taking on the risks of restarting direct flights to the United States 🇺🇸.

What This Means for Travelers

For people traveling between Thailand 🇹🇭 and the United States 🇺🇸, the lack of direct flights means they must continue to use connecting flights through other countries. This often means longer travel times, more complicated itineraries, and sometimes higher costs. Popular connecting points include Japan 🇯🇵, South Korea 🇰🇷, and the Middle East.

Key Points for Travelers:
– No direct Thai Airways flights between Thailand 🇹🇭 and the United States 🇺🇸
– Travelers must use connecting flights through third countries
– Check Thai Airways’ official website for the latest route updates

This situation can be frustrating for tourists, business travelers, and families who want a simple, nonstop journey. It also affects Thai students studying in the United States 🇺🇸 and Americans living or working in Thailand 🇹🇭, who must plan for longer, more complex trips.

Impact on the Aviation Industry and Economy

The absence of direct flights between Thailand 🇹🇭 and the United States 🇺🇸 has several effects:

• Tourism: Fewer direct flights may discourage some tourists from visiting, as they prefer nonstop travel. This could slow the recovery of Thailand’s tourism sector, which is still bouncing back from the pandemic.
• Business Travel: Companies that rely on quick, direct connections between the two countries may face higher costs and longer travel times. This could make it harder to do business and close deals.
• Cargo and Trade: Direct flights also help move goods quickly. Without them, shipping times may increase, affecting trade between the two countries.

Trade Negotiations and the Boeing Purchase

The link between Thai Airways’ aircraft purchases and Thailand’s trade talks with the United States 🇺🇸 is a key part of the story. The Thai government is using the option to buy more Boeing planes as a bargaining chip to avoid the 36% tariff on Thai exports. Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira has confirmed that these negotiations are ongoing.

If Thailand 🇹🇭 can reach a deal, it could protect Thai businesses from higher costs and keep Thai products competitive in the U.S. market. However, the outcome of these talks remains uncertain, and the threat of tariffs adds to the risks facing Thai Airways as it considers its future plans.

Stakeholder Perspectives

• Thai Airways: The airline is focused on financial stability and efficiency. CEO Chai Eamsiri has made it clear that expanding to risky markets like the United States 🇺🇸 is not a priority right now.
• Thai Government: Officials are working to protect Thai exports and jobs by negotiating with the United States 🇺🇸. The purchase of Boeing planes is part of a larger strategy to secure better trade terms.
• U.S. Stakeholders: American businesses and travelers would benefit from direct flights, which would make travel and shipping easier. The lack of direct service is a setback for those hoping to strengthen ties between the two countries.

Quotes from Key Figures

• Chai Eamsiri, CEO of Thai Airways: “The U.S. market is a big risk,” he said at the Reuters NEXT Asia summit, explaining why the airline is not resuming direct flights.
• Pichai Chunhavajira, Finance Minister: He confirmed that the purchase of more Boeing planes could be part of a deal to avoid the 36% tariff on Thai products.

Looking Ahead: Will Direct Flights Return?

At this time, there are no announced plans or timelines for Thai Airways to resume direct flights to the United States 🇺🇸. Several factors will influence any future decision:

• Fleet Capability: The arrival of new Boeing 787-9 jets could make direct flights possible, but only if the airline believes the routes will be profitable.
• Market Conditions: If demand for travel between Thailand 🇹🇭 and the United States 🇺🇸 increases, and if trade tensions ease, Thai Airways may reconsider.
• Trade Negotiations: The outcome of talks over tariffs and aircraft purchases will play a big role in shaping the airline’s future plans.

For now, Thai Airways is focused on consolidating its recovery after years of financial trouble. The airline wants to maximize profits on existing routes and avoid taking on new risks.

Practical Guidance for Affected Communities

If you are planning to travel between Thailand 🇹🇭 and the United States 🇺🇸, here are some steps you can take:

• Plan for Connections: Expect to book flights with at least one stop, usually in Asia or the Middle East.
• Compare Airlines: Look at different carriers and routes to find the best combination of price, travel time, and convenience.
• Check Visa Requirements: If you have a layover in a third country, make sure you understand any visa or transit rules. For example, some countries require a transit visa even if you are only passing through the airport.
• Monitor Official Updates: Check the Thai Airways official website and the U.S. Department of Transportation for the latest information on routes and travel policies.

Summary Table: Thai Airways Direct U.S. Flights Status (2025)

Official Resources and Contact Information

• Thai Airways Customer Service: +66 2 356 1111
• Official website: www.thaiairways.com
• U.S. Department of Transportation: https://www.transportation.gov/

Conclusion: What Comes Next?

The decision by Thai Airways not to resume direct flights to the United States 🇺🇸, even after the FAA’s safety upgrade, highlights the complex mix of business, safety, and political factors that shape international air travel. For now, travelers must rely on connecting flights, and both countries will need to find other ways to keep tourism, business, and trade moving.

As Thai Airways continues its recovery, and as Thailand 🇹🇭 and the United States 🇺🇸 work through trade negotiations, the possibility of direct flights may return in the future. Until then, staying informed and planning ahead will help travelers and businesses manage the challenges of indirect routes.

For the latest updates on Thai Airways routes, schedules, and official statements, visit the Thai Airways official website and monitor announcements from the U.S. Department of Transportation. Analysis from VisaVerge.com suggests that any change in the current situation will depend on improvements in fleet capability, market demand, and the outcome of ongoing trade talks.

Travelers, businesses, and policymakers should keep a close eye on these developments, as the future of direct flights between Thailand 🇹🇭 and the United States 🇺🇸 remains uncertain but important for both countries.

Learn Today

FAA → U.S. Federal Aviation Administration that regulates and oversees air safety standards.
Category 1 → FAA safety rating indicating that a country meets international aviation safety standards.
Boeing 787-9 → A modern wide-body aircraft designed for long-haul routes, ordered by Thai Airways for future expansion.
Tariffs → Taxes imposed on imported goods, here a 36% tax affecting Thai exports to the U.S.
Bankruptcy Restructuring → A legal process to reduce debt and reorganize a failing company’s operations and finances.

This Article in a Nutshell

Thai Airways won’t restart direct U.S. flights even after FAA’s safety upgrade. With fleet limits and trade risks, the airline prioritizes recovery. Travelers face longer routes via third countries. Ongoing Boeing purchases aim to improve future options but depend on tariff negotiations between Thailand and the U.S.
— By VisaVerge.com