Thai Airways International
ThailandFull-service carrierStar Alliance memberSince 1960
Thai Airways International (IATA TG, ICAO THA) is Thailand's national airline, flying since 1960 from its hub at Suvarnabhumi Airport, Bangkok. A founding member of Star Alliance, it left court-supervised rehabilitation in June 2025. At 31 March 2026 it operated 80 aircraft to 61 destinations in 27 countries.
- Founded
- 1960
- First flight
- 1960-05-01
- Headquarters
- Bangkok, Thailand
- Country
- Thailand
- Main hubs
- Suvarnabhumi Airport, Bangkok (BKK)
- Airline type
- Full-service carrier
- Alliance
- Star Alliance
- Loyalty
- Royal Orchid Plus
- Ownership
- Listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand. The Ministry of Finance is the largest shareholder, with 38.90% at 20 November 2025, after the business rehabilitation ended on 16 June 2025.
- Callsign
- THAI
- Website
- thaiairways.com
How travel agents book Thai Airways International
GDS distribution
No verified public statement of THAI's GDS contracts was found for this profile. THAI holds 55% of THAI-Amadeus Southeast Asia Company Limited, according to its 2025 annual report.
NDC
No public NDC programme details verified at time of writing.
Direct channels
Direct sales through thaiairways.com, the THAI mobile app, ticketing offices and the THAI Contact Center.
Notes for travel agents
Travel agents are THAI's biggest channel. In 2025 offline travel agents sold 50% of tickets and online travel agents 18%, with the THAI website at 25% and THAI offices and call centre at 7%.
On ReservationHub
ReservationHub gives agencies GDS content from Amadeus, Sabre and Travelport plus NDC and low-cost channels in one platform. See the full list on our integrations page.
History of Thai Airways International
THAI was set up in 1960 as a joint venture between Thai Airways Company, the domestic airline, and Scandinavian Airlines System (SAS). It was registered on 29 March 1960 and flew its first services on 1 May 1960, from Bangkok to Hong Kong, Taiwan and Tokyo. SAS sold its shares to Thai Airways Company in 1977, and the domestic and international airlines merged on 1 April 1988.
THAI listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand in 1991, and on 14 May 1997 it was one of the five airlines that founded Star Alliance. The airline later moved its base from Don Mueang to Suvarnabhumi Airport.
In May 2020 the Ministry of Finance cut its stake below 50%, ending THAI's status as a state enterprise, and the airline entered court-supervised business rehabilitation as the pandemic stopped most flying. During restructuring it absorbed the flights of its regional subsidiary Thai Smile. The Central Bankruptcy Court ended the rehabilitation on 16 June 2025, and THAI is now renewing its fleet with A321neos and Boeing 787s.
Milestones
- 1960First flights on 1 May, Bangkok to Hong Kong, Taiwan and Tokyo.
- 1988Merged with domestic carrier Thai Airways Company on 1 April.
- 1991Listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand on 19 July.
- 1997Co-founded Star Alliance on 14 May with four other airlines.
- 2020Ceased to be a state enterprise on 22 May and filed for business rehabilitation on 26 May.
- 2025Central Bankruptcy Court ended the rehabilitation on 16 June.
- 2026Introduced its first Airbus A321neo on 16 January.
Fleet
Aircraft types in service as of 2026
THAI operated 80 aircraft at 31 December 2025: 23 Airbus A350-900s, 17 Boeing 777-300ERs, six A330-300s, six 787-8s, four 787-9s, three 777-200ERs, 20 A320-200s and one A321neo. It still had 80 in operation at 31 March 2026. The fleet plan targets 150 aircraft by 2033, and THAI is retrofitting its A350s with a new three-class cabin.
Network and hubs
THAI's hub is Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok. At 31 March 2026 its network covered 61 destinations in 27 countries, including eight domestic points, with 62 destinations in the summer 2026 schedule.
Most routes are regional, across East, Southeast and South Asia, with intercontinental flights to Europe and Australia. Amsterdam returned as a daily route from 1 July 2026. Since Thai Smile was folded in, THAI also flies the former Thai Smile domestic and regional routes.
Thai Airways International: frequently asked questions
What are Thai Airways' IATA and ICAO codes?
Thai Airways International uses the IATA code TG and the ICAO code THA, with the radio callsign THAI. Its ticket prefix in the IATA register is 217, so THAI tickets begin with 217. Flights are shown as TG followed by digits.
Is Thai Airways still in rehabilitation?
No. THAI filed for court-supervised business rehabilitation in May 2020, and the Central Bankruptcy Court ended the process on 16 June 2025 after the plan's conditions were met. THAI then appointed a new board and continued trading as a listed company.
Is Thai Airways part of Star Alliance?
Yes. THAI was one of the five airlines, with Air Canada, Lufthansa, SAS and United, that founded Star Alliance on 14 May 1997. Royal Orchid Plus members can earn and redeem miles on Star Alliance partners.
How do travel agents sell THAI tickets?
Agents are THAI's largest sales channel, with offline agencies selling half of all tickets in 2025 and online agencies 18%. THAI also co-owns THAI-Amadeus Southeast Asia, a joint company with Amadeus. Agencies should confirm their booking channel and fare access with their local THAI sales office.
Sell Thai Airways International alongside 700+ airlines
ReservationHub combines GDS, NDC and low-cost carrier content with hotels, B2B sub-agent sales and back office in one travel booking platform.
Book a meeting