Air France Expands Thai Connectivity with New Paris-Phuket Service, Get the Details Here

Published on November 28, 2025

An important blessing was added to Thailand’s travel sector on November 28. Thailand’s tourism authority welcomed Air France’s inaugural journey to Thailand on its brand-new direct route to Phuket from Paris. This flight ushered in direct travel from Europe to Thailand’s widely visited resort location. Phuket is welcomed to the It’s direct links to Europe. The initial flight, AF156, landed approximately on schedule at 9:25 AM on November 28, 2025, at Phuket International Airport. Now on-flight AF156 is in-flight on its return journey.

There were representatives from the private sectors of both France and Thailand, Jean Claude Poimboeuf, the French Ambassador to Thailand, and Thailand’s tourism authority executives who made speeches emphasizing the role of foreign partnerships in the tourism and economy of Thailand.

TAT’s Airline Focus Strategy and Growing European Interest

According to Suladda Sarutilavan, TAT’s Director for the Europe Region, this new direct route aligns with TAT’s broader Airline Focus Strategy. This strategy aims to strengthen relationships with international airlines and develop more direct connections from long-haul markets, with a particular focus on Europe. The new Air France Paris-Phuket flight is a crucial step in this direction, providing French tourists with greater access to Phuket, a destination known for its luxury resorts, stunning beaches, and world-class leisure activities.

France is a key source market for Thailand, ranking as the fifth-largest country for long-haul visitors, behind Russia, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Germany. The new direct flight is expected to increase the volume of high-value travelers from France, further reinforcing the importance of the French market to Thailand’s tourism sector. The French market has shown strong growth, with 710,968 French tourists visiting Thailand in 2025 alone, marking a 13.8% increase compared to 2024. This surge in arrivals highlights the growing appeal of Thailand as a premium destination for French travelers.

Phuket’s Appeal to Luxury and Leisure Tourists

Phuket has long been a favorite destination for international tourists, known for its luxury tourism products, such as wellness resorts, spa treatments, and yacht cruising experiences. The island’s beautiful marine attractions, along with its vibrant culture and leisure offerings, make it an attractive destination for high-end travelers.

The Air France Paris-Phuket flight caters to the luxury segment, providing French tourists with convenient access to the island. TAT is working closely with Air France to promote Phuket and Thailand’s luxury offerings through targeted marketing campaigns, including the “Air France Digital Campaign Inspirational Gold Package”, which aims to raise awareness of Thailand in the French market.

The flight’s introduction is expected to increase the flow of high-spending tourists who contribute significantly to Thailand’s economy. With an average daily spend of approximately THB 58,611 per person and an average stay of 17.22 days, French tourists have proven to be valuable contributors to Thailand’s tourism revenue. Phuket, Krabi, Bangkok, and Surat Thani remain the most popular destinations for French visitors.

Direct Flight Schedule and Operational Details

The new direct Paris-Phuket flight, AF156, operates three times a week, offering greater flexibility for tourists traveling between the two cities. The flight departs from Paris on Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, arriving in Phuket on the following mornings. The return flights from Phuket to Paris are scheduled for Tuesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. The service will run until March 2026 and will be operated with a Boeing 777-200 aircraft, seating 328 passengers per flight.

Air France’s decision to expand its services to Phuket aligns with the airline’s broader strategy of enhancing connectivity to key global tourist destinations, further supporting the Thai tourism sector’s recovery and growth. Femke Kroese, the General Manager for Southeast Asia and Oceania at Air France, expressed confidence that the direct flight would provide more travel options for tourists, offering them an unforgettable journey to explore Phuket’s natural beauty and diverse culture.

In addition to the Phuket service, Air France continues to operate two daily direct flights from Paris to Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok, offering comprehensive access to the entire country for French tourists.

Collaboration Between TAT and Air France Boosts French Market

To stimulate further interest in Thailand, TAT and Air France have collaborated on the “Air France Digital Campaign Inspirational Gold Package”, designed to promote Thailand through Air France’s online platforms. This initiative aims to raise awareness about Thailand’s unique offerings, especially among French travelers, and drive increased bookings for the new direct flight service to Phuket.

This collaborative effort is part of TAT’s broader goal to capture a larger share of the French tourism market. With the number of French tourists steadily increasing, TAT is keen to maintain this growth while expanding its focus on luxury travelers and high-quality tourism products.

A Bright Future for Thailand’s Tourism

The commencement of Air France flights from Paris to Phuket provides a gateway to introduce tourists to Thailand’s luxury Phukets. Thailand’s tourism industry incorporated France as a strong trading partner and tourism France is France’s high yet untapped market. Having this flight boosts tourism from France and cultivates of Thailand and France.

It is projected that Thailand’s tourism economy, owing to this flight, hope to sustain and improve the projected increased. The ease of travel to Thailand and its luxury tourism offerings, the high likelihood fits Thailand to continue as a top travel destination in the world.

With the ongoing interest in Thailand, the planned TAT and Air France collaboration for the promotion of Thailand in the French market, successful flight and the driven interest in France’s top market, the tourism economy of Thailand-Phuket will improve in the immediate future. The partnership will continue the offer of modern France to Thailand tourism cultural and leisure experiences. This partnership will continue enhance tourism