Thai set for A380 launch
Thai Airways will introduce its first Airbus A380-800 on major intercontinental routes next week.
From September 27, it will operate the double-decker aircraft on flights between Bangkok and Hong Kong, and from October 6 on services between Bangkok and Singapore.
Three additional aircraft will be accepted in the winter programme and another two aircraft will be received in 2013.
Upon acceptance of the second A380-800 in mid-December 2012, Thai will operate the aircraft to and from Bangkok-Frankfurt and Bangkok-Hong Kong.
In January 2013, it will begin operating the A380-800 between Bangkok and Narita and to and from Bangkok-Paris in February 2013.
Bangkok to London services are due to get the A380 within the next 18 months but no date has been set.
The aircraft will carry 507 passengers in three-classes of travel (12 seats in Royal First Class, 60 seats in Royal Silk Class, and 435 seats in Economy Class).
by Bev Fearis
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Turkish tourism stalls due to soaring prices for accommodation and food
CCS Insight: eSIMs ready to take the travel world by storm
Germany new European Entry/Exit System limited to a single airport on October 12, 2025
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers