BANGKOK, THAILAND – Thai Airways raised ticket prices on several routes by 10 to 15 percent to offset higher fuel costs linked to tensions in the Middle East while reporting strong bookings and pressing ahead with expansion plans.
Ticket prices rise as fuel and crisis pressures grow
According to Chief Financial and Accounting Officer Cherdchome Therdsteerasukdi, Thai Airways began adjusting fares after oil prices increased. The airline stated that a fuel surcharge was already in place, but any cap on this charge had to be coordinated with the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT).
Thai Airways said demand had not weakened so far and no flights had been cancelled because of the current situation. Advance bookings for March 2026 remained strong, particularly on direct services between Europe and Thailand, where average load factors stood at 80 to 90 percent.
Direct Europe routes in high demand
The airline reported that over the previous two weeks it had at times been difficult to find seats on several routes, including European connections. One reason, according to the company, was that some travellers deliberately chose direct flights in order to avoid transfers through hubs in the Middle East.
Rerouting around conflict zones
Thai Airways said it had adjusted certain flight paths to bypass conflict areas, including routing around Iranian airspace. These changes slightly increased fuel consumption, but the operational impact was described as not significant.
Jet fuel costs nearly double, CEO defends price move
CEO Chai Eamsiri linked the higher ticket prices to rising costs and said the price of jet fuel had almost doubled.
“We are not taking advantage of the situation, this is simply an adjustment in line with higher costs,”
said Chai Eamsiri, CEO, rejecting accusations of crisis-driven pricing.
Fleet to grow to 102 aircraft by 2026
Behind the scenes, Thai Airways continued to expand and expected to bring additional aircraft into service this year, including both wide-body and narrow-body types. Rath Rauksamrauat, Director of Corporate Finance, set a target of 102 aircraft in the fleet by 2026, comprising 67 wide-body and 35 narrow-body jets.
New destinations in Europe and Asia
For 2026, Thai Airways planned new or reinstated routes and added frequencies to support performance and strengthen its hub strategy. Specifically, the carrier named Amsterdam and Auckland for launch in the third quarter, along with new narrow-body services to Chinese cities such as Changsha, Xiamen and Chongqing, Busan in the second quarter and Da Nang in the fourth quarter.
Liquidity first, no new loans for now
Despite pursuing growth, Thai Airways said it was prioritising liquidity under current conditions and did not plan to take on new loans for the time being. The company added that the process for a credit rating assessment was still under review.
Airports of Thailand to raise departure fee
Separately from Thai Airways, Airports of Thailand (AOT) confirmed that the Passenger Service Charge for international departures would increase in May. AOT expected the higher charge to affect mainly foreign travellers but did not foresee a decline in international visitor numbers.