Thai Airways International plans to return its premium economy cabin to some of its fleet in line with the carrier’s growth plans, its boss has announced.
Thai Airways CEO Chai Eamsiri stated the carrier’s intention to bring back the product at the airline’s recent “FLY FOR THE NEW PRIDE” event.
According to Eamsiri, the rollout will commence with TG’s B777-300ER fleet, which used to offer a premium economy cabin before the product was dropped during restructuring at the carrier.
The airline is expected to also introduce the cabin on its B787-9 Dreamliners, which are earmarked for a 2027 delivery.
Thailand’s national airline also previously offered a premium economy product on some of its Airbus A340s, but they have since left the fleet.
It’s been reported that the new mid-class product will be available on routes between Australia and Thailand. But Thai Airways currently operates double daily flights from Sydney and Melbourne to Bangkok utilising its A350 aircraft, so the proposition appears unlikely for East Coast passengers for now – unless the carrier resumes its Brisbane service (which it cancelled in 2020) using its B777, or Thai promptly rolls the product out on its A350, which it hasn’t said it would do.
However, the airline does operate its B787 aircraft on its Perth to Bangkok route, so the product could make its Aussie debut in Western Australia.
Karryon has contacted Thai Airways for comment.
Thai Airways has not given any details on what its premium economy product will look like.
Thai’s announcement comes amid a rise in premium economy cabins, with Emirates, Cathay Pacific and Air India among the airlines to add capacity to this class.
