Published on
October 24, 2025
Thailand is enhancing its global connectivity for the 2025/2026 winter season with the introduction of five new direct flights from the UK, Sweden, and Norway to its bustling hubs of Bangkok and Phuket. This strategic expansion by Norse Atlantic Airways, backed by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), not only broadens travel options but also supports Thailand’s efforts to strengthen long-haul connections and boost international tourism. These new routes are set to cater to increasing demand, reflecting the country’s commitment to welcoming more visitors and enhancing its status as a top destination for global travelers.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is excited to announce the introduction of five new direct flights by Norse Atlantic Airways, boosting air links from the UK, Sweden, and Norway to Bangkok and Phuket for the upcoming 2025/2026 winter season. This expansion strengthens Thailand’s long-haul connections from Europe and supports the government’s “Big Impact, Act Fast” strategy to increase international tourism arrivals.
Mrs. Chiravadee Khunsub, TAT Deputy Governor for International Marketing – Europe, America, Middle East, and Africa, said “The addition of these new Norse Atlantic Airways routes reflects growing confidence in Thailand as a premier long-haul destination. This expansion provides travellers from the UK and Northern Europe with greater convenience and affordability while supporting TAT’s strategy to diversify source markets and extend visitor stays across the country.”
Norse Atlantic Airways, a budget-friendly long-haul carrier founded in 2021, is expanding its services with five new direct routes to Thailand, all operated by Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, each offering 338 seats. The airline aims to provide affordable long-haul travel to some of the world’s most sought-after destinations.
Starting from 26 October 2025, Norse Atlantic will launch direct flights between London Gatwick and Bangkok, offering three to five weekly services. This route, which is already serviced by British Airways, will provide a more budget-conscious option for travellers and will become a year-round offering from April 2026. Additionally, a Manchester–Bangkok service will begin on 26 November 2025, operating weekly through March 2026. Manchester will become the first UK airport, aside from London, to offer direct flights to Bangkok. With over 100,000 passengers travelling indirectly between Manchester and Bangkok annually, the new route is poised to meet the growing demand for direct connections to Thailand.
In Northern Europe, Norse Atlantic has launched twice-weekly Stockholm–Bangkok flights as of 22 October 2025, with plans to increase the frequency to four flights per week in December. The airline will also introduce new services to Phuket, with weekly flights from Stockholm starting on 4 December 2025 and from Oslo starting on 8 December 2025. These new routes further cement Thailand’s status as a premier winter-sun destination for European travellers seeking affordable long-haul travel.
The inaugural Stockholm–Bangkok flight, fully booked with 338 passengers, was celebrated today upon its arrival at Suvarnabhumi Airport, where executives from the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and Mr. Bård Nordhagen, Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) of Norse Atlantic Airways, greeted the passengers warmly.
In addition to Norse Atlantic’s expansion, other airlines are enhancing their air links to Thailand this winter. Arkia Israeli Airlines will commence twice-weekly Tel Aviv–Bangkok flights from 26 November 2025, and Air France will introduce three weekly Paris Charles de Gaulle–Phuket services starting 28 November 2025. These new routes will further improve access from major European and Middle Eastern hubs.
The 2025/2026 winter season marks a key milestone for Thailand’s air connectivity. Alongside the new European services, Etihad Airways launched its Abu Dhabi–Krabi route on 9 October 2025, and United Airlines will resume direct flights from Los Angeles to Bangkok on 26 October 2025, marking the first direct US-Thai service in over a decade. These developments reflect the growing confidence of international carriers in Thailand’s tourism industry, driven by increasing demand from key long-haul markets.
Thailand is set to boost its global connectivity with five new direct flights from the UK, Sweden, and Norway to Bangkok and Phuket for the 2025/2026 winter season. This move, led by Norse Atlantic Airways and supported by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), strengthens long-haul connections and aims to drive more international tourism. The new routes reflect the country’s commitment to expanding travel options and enhancing its position as a premier global destination.
Travel to Thailand from both the United Kingdom and Sweden has been experiencing strong growth. From January to September 2025, Thailand welcomed 757,960 British visitors, a 13.66% increase compared to the previous year. Meanwhile, Sweden saw 145,188 visitors to Thailand by mid-October 2025, an 8.56% rise from the same period last year. Swedish tourists, who tend to spend an average of 65,000 Baht per trip and stay an average of 19.9 days, contributed over 14.6 billion Baht to the Thai economy. Forward bookings from the UK are up 10% for the October–December 2025 period and 13% for January–March 2026, showing that both markets remain confident in Thailand as a long-haul travel destination. Growing interest in safety, independent travel, and responsible tourism is further solidifying Thailand’s position as a sustainable and high-value destination.
