Thai Airline
January 16th, 2009 by Tom Martens, under Travel and Leisure. No Comments
Thai airways most recently won awards from Skytrax in 2006 for Worlds Best Cabin Staff and placed second in 2007 in the Best Airline in the World category. It is the national carrier of Thailand, operating out of its hub at Suvarnabhumi Airport. Thai Airways also offers many non-stop passenger flights from Chaing Mai International Airport, Don Mueang International Airport and Phuket International Airport.
The Airway International Company Limited was formed in 1960 as a joint venture between Thailand’s domestic airline, Thai Airways Company and Scandinavian Airline System. It was after 17 years that the government bought SAS”s holdings which made it the sole owner of the airline.
Initial departures started from Bangkok to nine other countires in Asia. By 1980, the primary trans continental flights were to Australia, then to Europe and finally North America. After the company had merged with the Thai Airways Company, it went through a period of rapid growth.
Thai Airways helped found the Star Alliance network in 1997. Member airlines are able to offer more flights by codesharing with one another through this network. Through other partnerships, the Thai Airways list of destinations has grown to include trips to Africa (although only until January 16 of 2009); Asia, including Japan, Korea, China, Taiwan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Singapore, the Philippines, and Vietnam, as well as India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka; the Middle Eastern countries of Kuwait, Oman, and United Arab Emirates; Europe, including France, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, Greece, the United Kingdom, and Russia; the United States; and Australia, including Queensland, Victoria, and Western Australia, as well as New Zealand. One of the longest non-stop commercial flights now being untertaken by any airline in the world is the Thai Airways Bangkok to Los Angeles route.
Thai Airways has a fleet capacity that comprises 89 aircraft. The largest aircraft that they have in the fleet is the Boeing 767-400 that has a seating capacity of 389 passengers.
There are four travel classes that an airline may offer, which include Royal First, Royal Silk, Premium Economy, and Economy.
Passengers of Royal First class enjoy flat bed seats that also comes with touch screens, multi-media entertainment, and automated massage systems. There are over 20 meals to choose from. These options are usually available on Europe to Australia and some intra-Asian flights.
Royal Silk is the equivalent of the business class and includes angled, lie-flat business class seats that offer lumbar massage. All seats have 17-20 touch screens and AVOD and IFE.
Premium Economy Class is available on intercontinental flights from Bangkok and LA on the Air Bus A40-500. Less seats are free on this type of aircraft to offer more space for reclining and rests. These seats come with 10.5 touch screens with AVOD and IFE.
There is less legroom in Economy Class seating, but in-seat audio/video on-demand is available.
Royal Orchid Plus is Thai Airlines frequent flyer reward program. It has more than two million members worldwide. The program has three tiers, member, silver and gold. Members can earn miles on Thai Airways flights, codeshare flights departing or arriving at Bangkok, Star Alliance flights and Jet Airways flights or at partner hotels.
Those who will belong to the three special classes of the company will have the opportunity to enjoy an offer. The offers include relaxing collection of soothing spas.
