As part of its ongoing restructuring, Star Alliance member Thai Airways International (THAI) is taking over more Thai Smile Airbus A320 aircraft and routes.
The A320s will be mainline THAI’s only narrowbody, single-aisle aircraft, and they represent a downgrade vis-a-vis the airline’s widebody, long-haul aircraft previously deployed on THAI’s regional routes.
Following flights from Bangkok to Mumbai and Delhi, THAI has now announced that it also will deploy the A320 on its routes to Dhaka and Yangon.
Yangon will be exclusively served by the A320, while Dhaka, Delhi and Mumbai also see Boeing 777-200ER aircraft deployed on some frequencies.
Flight times from Bangkok to Delhi and Mumbai exceed four hours.
The THAI A320s will come in a two-class configuration, with 12 seats in business and 150-158 seats in economy.
The entire aircraft is fitted in a 3-3 configuration, although in the business section in the first three rows the middle seats are blocked and there is more legroom, much like Lufthansa’s intra-European business product, or the British Airways Club Europe product.
Still, this pales in comparison with THAI’s other aircraft, which all feature lie-flat business class seating, most with direct aisle access for everyone in business.
On the India and Dhaka flights, THAI is offering the A320 business product, while on the A320 rotation to Dhaka only economy class service is available.
THAI is lacking aircraft. The airline is in the process of leasing in additional A350-900s, but more capacity is required to return to pre-pandemic levels.
