Thai Airways Scraps US Flights

In April 2025, Thai Airways was granted a Category 1 aviation safety rating from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

The significant move meant that Thai Airways would once again be able to launch flights to the United States. This long-touted goal had been previously impossible due to limitations in the safety rating.

The safety rating change occurred 10 years prior, in 2015, when the Bangkok-based company saw its safety rating downgraded to Category 2, which impacted its ability to serve the U.S.

The landmark decision handed down to the airline reopened discussions about a prospective return to the U.S. in due course; however, that speculation has now cooled.

Speaking at the Reuters NEXT Asia summit, the airline’s CEO confirmed that flights to the United States were not currently on the radar.

Thai Airways faces several limitations in making this a reality, notably due to its fleet, which is not yet equipped with the necessary aircraft to cover the long distances.

However, it’s not just fleet limitations that prevent Thai Airways from launching nonstop flights to the U.S.; trade and other tensions also make this market a precarious one to enter.

Despite these comments, it doesn’t rule out an eventual possible return for Thai Airways towards the United States, but it means that, at least for the moment, such a move has to be ruled out for several crucial reasons.

Thai Airways Plans New Order?

On the topic of trade tensions that make the U.S. a risky market, the purchase of new planes from Boeing has also been considered as a possible option moving forward.

In the hope of avoiding a 36% tariff on products that would take effect in the coming weeks, Thailand seeks to agree to a proposal that would mutually benefit both companies.

The purchase of these new Boeing planes could therefore be part of accepting reality and help aid Thai Airways in its future growth.

After exiting restructuring and navigating a challenging COVID-19 pandemic that saw much of the airline’s capacity cut due to a lack of demand, as well as fleet retirements, there is now newfound hope for building a better future.

The carrier, therefore, is looking to enhance, more specifically, its widebody flying with the purchase of more aircraft that would one day enable the possible relaunch of service to markets such as the United States.

For now, conversations between Thailand and the United States must continue, but the flag-carrier will remain in waiting to understand its next steps.