Flying to Thailand

General Information

Thailand is one of the world's best-connected countries by air, thanks in part to its strategic location at the crossroads of several regions. This explains why it remains the flagship destination in Southeast Asia and a true "hub" (or transit point) for traveling around this part of the world.

In total, Thailand has around forty commercial airports well distributed across its territory, including about ten with international status. Logically, the two airports in the capital handle by far the most traffic, with nearly 100 million passengers between them each year. They are followed by those in the highly touristic Phuket (around 15 million) and Chiang Mai (9 million), which remains the main gateway to the north of the country. Around ten other airports (Hat Yai, Krabi, Samui, Chiang Rai, etc.) also handle over a million passengers annually.

Local Airlines

Thailand has about a dozen scheduled carriers flying under its flag, led by its national airline Thai Airways, which serves the world with a fleet of around 80 aircraft across sixty destinations, including Europe. Even after restructuring in recent years, it remains the country's "historic" airline, much like Bangkok Airways, which also emerged in the 1980s and focuses on domestic and regional routes.

As elsewhere, Thailand has its share of low-cost carriers that arrived with the new century. Whether it's Thai AirAsia (the largest), Thai VietJet Air, Thai Lion Air, or Nok Air, they are well established on domestic and regional networks, often offering great deals.

From France and Europe

Thanks to Thai Airways and national carriers like Air France, Europe is very well connected with direct flights. Nearly twenty cities on the continent, including Paris, have direct routes to Bangkok and even Phuket. This means options for flying non-stop to Thailand in around twelve hours—but often for prices exceeding 1,000 €.

For cheaper fares, starting from 600 €–700, you’ll need to consider connecting flights. There’s a wide range to compare, with Turkish Airlines (via Istanbul) and various Gulf carriers generally offering the best deals. Major European airlines and most Asian carriers also provide routes to Bangkok and Thailand, usually with a stop at their hubs.

From Asia-Pacific

No problem—Thailand is extremely well connected to the rest of its continent and Australia, including a wide range of low-cost carriers. Even several airports beyond Bangkok and Phuket offer a good selection of options.

From Elsewhere

Apart from Latin America, which has no direct flights, other major regions have at least one connection via Thai Airways or airlines from the countries in question. This includes North America (Los Angeles and Vancouver), eastern Africa (Ethiopia and Réunion), and nearly all Gulf countries.