British Airways Returns to Bangkok in Style After Four-Year Hiatus

On October 29, 2024, a British Airways Boeing 777 made a grand entrance at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi International Airport (BKK), marking the end of a four-year break in direct flights from London to the vibrant Thai capital. The flight had departed from London-Gatwick Airport (LGW) at 22:00 local time on Monday, October 28, and gracefully landed in Bangkok at 15:55 local time, ahead of schedule. This special flight was operated by one of British Airways' 43 Boeing 777-200ER aircraft, registered as G-YMMA. Passengers on the historic flight were warmly welcomed with traditional dances, floral garlands, and local souvenirs.

Pilotcenter.net News reports that British Airways had announced its return to Bangkok earlier in 2024, having halted services to the city in 2020 due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Initially, the resurrected flights will run three times a week, with plans to increase to five weekly flights by January and February 2025, and then to four times per week in March 2025. The outbound flight (BA2231) departs London-Gatwick at 21:15 on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays, landing in Bangkok at 16:10 the following day. The return leg (BA2230) leaves Bangkok on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays at 22:25, arriving back at Gatwick at 05:30 the next morning.

Travelers on the London-Bangkok route can indulge in three different cabin classes – business, premium economy, and economy – with capacities of 32, 48, and 252 seats in each cabin, respectively. The reintroduction of these flights will add 996 extra seats per week in each direction, with an increase to 1,660 seats weekly in each direction expected by early 2025.

This revival of the London-Bangkok route follows British Airways’ recent announcement of expanding its codeshare agreement with Bangkok Airways, granting British Airways passengers the option to connect through Bangkok to Bangkok Airways flights. This enhanced partnership provides access to top holiday destinations like Koh Samui, Phuket, and Chiang Mai within Thailand, as well as international spots such as Phnom Penh in Cambodia and the picturesque town of Siem Reap.

"We understand the anticipation from our customers for the return to Bangkok, and we are excited to have this vibrant city back on our global route map," remarked Neil Chernoff, Chief Planning and Strategy Officer at British Airways. "Bangkok serves as a portal to the wonders of Southeast Asia, offering our leisure travelers rich experiences that we are proud to bring closer to the UK market."

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) also expressed their enthusiasm for British Airways' return, particularly as it coincides with the peak tourism season. Sadudee Sangnil, Director of UK, Ireland & South Africa at TAT, shared, "With diverse experiences awaiting in Thailand, the resumption of these flights means we can extend our warm hospitality to more travelers seeking the sun in our beautiful country."

In addition to the Bangkok route, British Airways also operates flights to Kuala Lumpur, with daily service scheduled for the 2024/25 winter season. However, due to issues with Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines powering their Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft, the airline has decided to postpone the relaunch of London-Kuala Lumpur flights until April 1, 2025.

With Bangkok back in its flight network, British Airways now links nearly 200 destinations in over 60 countries, including routes in collaboration with partner airlines. The airline facilitates travel from four main London airports to various destinations worldwide, showcasing its commitment to serving passengers with an extensive network and convenient connections.