Thai Airways will fly bigger aircraft, with business class seats, on the Calcutta-Bangkok route between April 1 and May 1, the airline said in a communication to travel agents.
“We are pleased to inform you that Thai Airways will be upgrading aircraft from current A325 (Airbus) to B772/B787 (Boeing) version effective 01 April, 2024 to 01 May, 2024, on route Bangkok-Calcutta-Bangkok,” the communication from Thai Airways to travel agents said.
The airline will keep flying daily on the route.
The Boeing B777-200 aircraft will have 30 Royal Silk class (business class) seats and 262 economy class seats. The Boeing 787-800 aircraft will have 22 Royal Silk class seats and 234 economy class seats, the airline said in its communication.
Sources said either of the two aircraft will fly each day.
The Airbus A320-500 series aircraft that now operates on the route has far fewer seats and no business class.
“It’s a welcome decision from Thai Airways. After the Thai authorities announced a visa-free entry policy for Indians, the number of tourists from Calcutta to Bangkok and other parts of the country has increased manifold. This will help cater to the additional demand,” said Anil Punjabi, national committee member, Travel Agents Federation of India, representing east.
“Besides, many Calcuttans now organise destination weddings in Thailand. That will further boost the demand for travel to Thailand from Calcutta. We hope the visa-free entry policy will be extended,” he said.
Thailand had announced visa-free entry for Indians between November 10, 2023, and May 10, 2024.
“We were pushing for bigger aircraft with business class seats to cater to the
luxury travel segment keen on flying out of Bengal to Thailand and onwards. Only one airline flying out of Calcutta operates an aircraft with business class seats. That is not enough compared with the demand,” said Manav Soni, chairman, eastern region, Travel Agents Association of India.
Tour operators said the additional seats would keep a check on the rise in fares.