Thai Airways is expected to launch a four times a week B747 link between Dusseldorf and Bangkok in the coming winter months. But the new route will be at the expense of Frankfurt which sees a reduction in service.
Plans for the new Dusseldork link are already well advanced although they are not, at the time of writing, posted on Thai’s website.
Provisional schedules see flight TG920 departing Bangkok at 2340 and arriving into Dusseldorf at 0530 in the morning. The return service to Bangkok is expected to depart Dusseldorf at 1410 to provide an arrival in the Thai capital at 0620 the following day.
Of course, Thai Airways is not soley concerned with Bangkok. There will be onward flights available to destinations throughout SE Asia and Australasia.
But why Dusseldorf? There are a variety of reasons. Firstly this city taps the five million population of the “Ruhrgebiet" region and secondly, Dusseldorf has conveninent road and rail links to Holland so the airport can access the Dutch market. Indeed, Dusseldorf is roughly as far from Amsterdam (a city not served by Thai) as London Heathrow is from Birmingham.
In addition, Thai is having to be more creative in dealing with the tourism downturn in Thailand and the growth of the Gulf carriers (who have stolen a large chunk of its market). So it must seek out new opportunities.
Therefore Thai Airways will offer fewer seats between Frankfurt and Bangkok this coming winter. Right now it operates up to two flights a day (one by A380, the other with an A340-600) but for the winter season these will be cut to a single A380 flight.
The latter will operate flight TG920 which departs Bangok at 2340 which arrives into Frankfurt at 0530 the next morning. The A380 will remain at Frankfurt until departing with TG921 at 1410 and arriving into Bangkok at 0620 the next day. Details are now posted on That’s website.
What is surprising about the Frankfurt decision is that it takes place at what is the busiest time of year for travel between Europe, Asia and Australia. Perhaps this demonstrates how the airlines’ market share has switched.
Report by Alex McWhirter
