THAI AIRWAYS: Doubles down on daily flights to Sydney

UPDATE:

This story previously stated that this route would be flown by both an Airbus A350-900 and the current Boeing 777. This is incorrect, and from 1 April when the new service begins, both services will be flown using an Airbus A350-900. The post below has been updated to reflect this.

PREVIOUSLY:

From 1 April 2024, Thai Airways will commence a second daily service between Sydney and the Thai capital, Bangkok, offering excellent connections to Europe. Continental destinations include Copenhagen, London, Paris, and Zurich.

The second daily flight will use a modern Airbus A350, compared to the older and noisier Boeing 777 that currently service the single daily flight. The second daily flight also conveniently leaves Sydney mid-afternoon, arriving in Bangkok late in the evening. The new flight leaves Bangkok in the late evening, arriving in Sydney just before midday, as detailed below:

The current service using a Boeing 777 and Australian Eastern Summer Time:

TG476 departs Sydney 11 am arrives Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi Airport) at 4:20 pm
TG475 departs Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi) 8:30 am arrives Sydney at 9:30 pm

The new additional flight on and Airbus A350:

TG472 departs Sydney at 3:20 pm, arrives Bangkok at 9:20 pm
TG471 departs Bangkok at 10:20 pm, arrives Sydney at 11:20 am + 1 day

From 1 April when the TG471/2 flight starts, both flights will use A350-900 aircraft.

a map of an airplane — Thai Airways Airbus A350-900 cabin layout. [Thai Airways]

a row of seats in a plane — Royal Silk (Business Class) cabin on the Thai Airways A350-900 [Thai Airways]

A350 seats and cabins

The aircraft accommodates 321 passengers in two classes, 32 in Royal Silk Business Class, with fully flat bed and direct aisle access in a 1-2-1 configuration. There are 289 Economy seats in a 3-3-3 configuration. If travelling in Economy watch out for row 49 – an exit row that only has sets of two seats by the window – 49B&C and 49H&J. You get a lot of leg room here, but you also might experience passengers standing around since these seats are also adjacent to the toilets and 49 is also a bassinet row.

Business class passengers have access to 40kg of baggage, and the Star Alliance lounge offered by Air New Zealand. If travelling on TG476, which leaves Sydney at 11 am, you will also have access to the Singapore Airlines SliverKris business lounge – next door to the AirNZ lounge.

Just be aware that some of Thai’s A350s have business class in a 2-2-2 layout, so you may get a nasty surprise if there is a last-minute equipment swap.

a woman in a purple dress standing in a row of seats

2PAXfly Takeout

Looks like Thai is going gangbusters under bankruptcy administration, with a return to daily services to Perth announced just last week.

Thai Airlines was one of my favourite carriers back in the early 2000s, providing well-priced superior Business Class service. It’s been through the wars since then, seeing confusing equipment purchases and service downgrades. It looks like the bankruptcy administration has bought some order and rationality to its business practices. I hope this a sign of a once great airline returning to its glory days of service.

I’m excited since I am set to experience Thai Airways for the first time in many years lin mid-2024.