SINGAPORE – Thai Airways International has confirmed it does not intend to resume direct flights to the United States, despite a recent upgrade in Thailand’s air safety rating by US regulators. Chief Executive Officer Chai Eamsiri made the announcement on 9 July 2025 during a panel at the Reuters NEXT Asia summit in Singapore.
The US Federal Aviation Administration restored Thailand’s Category 1 safety status earlier this year, which would technically allow Thai carriers to operate new and expanded services to the United States. However, Chai stated that the airline’s current fleet is not suitable for efficiently handling such long-haul routes.
In addition to logistical challenges, Chai described the US market as “a big risk,” referring to the uncertain environment surrounding ongoing tariff discussions between Thailand and the United States.
Thai Airways halted its direct services to the US in 2015, the same year the FAA downgraded Thailand to Category 2, restricting Thai carriers from initiating or expanding flights to American destinations.
Chai also addressed the airline’s existing purchase agreement with Boeing, which includes 45 confirmed orders for Boeing 787-9 aircraft and options for an additional 35. The potential acquisition of these optional aircraft is being considered in the context of broader trade talks between Thailand and Washington. Thai Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira recently indicated that additional aircraft purchases could be part of a wider effort to reduce a pending 36% tariff on Thai exports set to take effect from 1 August.
Thai Airways exited its court-supervised debt restructuring in June 2025 and plans to relist on the stock exchange by early August. The company entered restructuring in 2021 with over 400 billion baht in debt, later downsizing both its workforce and fleet. Currently, the airline operates at approximately 75% of its pre-pandemic seat capacity, but has reported revenue levels exceeding those seen before the Covid-19 crisis.
The Reuters NEXT Asia summit in Singapore also included other industry leaders and officials, with Chai representing Thai Airways in discussions on regional aviation and trade dynamics.
