Thailand Attracts Eighty Six Airlines Seeking More than Two Hundred Seventy Thousand Summer 2026 New Flight Slots as its Host of Next Global Slot Conference

Published on November 24, 2025

The aviation sector in Thailand is well on track for a landmark year, following the CAAT’s confirmation that 86 airlines have requested over 270,000 flight slots for the Summer 2026 operating season. This came after Thailand’s presence as an official slot coordinator at the 157th Global Slot Conference, held from November 18 to 20 in Lisbon, Portugal, where airline executives and regulators convened to finalize schedule plans.

This strong volume underlines Thailand’s new status as a regional aviation hub, bolstered by a powerful rebound in tourism, improving commercial interest, and strong global travel demand. The CAAT also affirmed that Thailand was selected to host the 158th Global Slot Conference from June 9 to 11, 2026, in Bangkok, marking a major milestone for the country’s aviation leadership.

Extensive Slot Allocation Across Thailand’s Busiest Airports

For the upcoming summer season, the CAAT has approved 543,738 airport slots, covering 271,869 flights across major airports including Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, Phuket, Chiang Mai, and U-Tapao. The largest portion of flights will operate through the Level 3 coordinated airports, which include the four busiest gateways requiring strict time-slot management due to high congestion levels, while U-Tapao continues to function as a Level 2 schedule-facilitated airport.

Of the total allocation, 308,572 slots are designated for international flights, accounting for 154,286 scheduled services, while 235,166 slots are assigned to domestic flights, representing 117,583 services. This strong split reflects Thailand’s dual focus on expanding global connectivity while supporting its large domestic travel market.

Worldwide Airlines Increase Applications For Thailand Routes

Airlines from every major region expressed interest in expanding operations into Thailand. European carriers such as Air France, British Airways, KLM, Finnair, Lufthansa, SWISS, Cargolux, and Turkish Airlines were among those negotiating new or revised schedules, reflecting Thailand’s strong demand among long-haul leisure travelers.

Middle Eastern airlines submitted a significant number of requests, including Emirates, Etihad Airways, Qatar Airways, Gulf Air, Kuwait Airways, Oman Air, Air Arabia, El Al Israel Airlines, Riyadh Air, and Royal Jordanian, illustrating ongoing growth in connections between Southeast Asia and the Gulf region. From the United States, United Airlines and FedEx participated actively, underscoring strong links in both passenger and cargo transport.

Africa registered interest from Kenya Airways and Air Austral, while the Asia-Pacific region delivered the highest participation, especially from Thai carriers such as Thai Airways, Bangkok Airways, Thai AirAsia, and Thai AirAsia X. Major airlines from India, China, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands also engaged in negotiations, recognizing Thailand’s central role in regional and long-haul travel circuits.

New Airlines And Flight Routes Expand Tourism And Trade Potential

The CAAT also highlighted several new or expanding airlines seeking to operate in Thailand. South African Airways submitted a request for a Johannesburg–Suvarnabhumi–Guangzhou route operating 3 flights per week, while Sun Phu Quoc Airways sought approval for a daily Phu Quoc–Suvarnabhumi service. Luxury airline Beond, headquartered in the Maldives, proposed 3 weekly flights into Thailand, and Riyadh Air requested a daily Riyadh–Suvarnabhumi connection.

Additionally, several new routes were approved, including Jaipur–Suvarnabhumi by Thai Airways, Johannesburg–Suvarnabhumi–Guangzhou by South African Airways, Dubai–Don Mueang by Flydubai, Bahrain–Singapore–Phuket by Gulf Air, Navi Mumbai–Phuket by IndiGo, and Delhi–Samui by Air India. These additions are set to stimulate tourism flows, promote business travel, and strengthen Thailand’s role as a bridge between South Asia, East Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Europe.

Thailand Strengthens Its Regional Aviation Coordination Role

In addition to its presence at the global conference, the CAAT also took part in the 30th Asia-Pacific Coordinators Association Meeting, which provided an opportunity to enhance collaboration and develop coordinated strategies across the region. Hosting the global slot conference in June 2026 is expected to attract hundreds of international aviation experts to Bangkok and reinforce Thailand’s growing leadership in air transport planning.

A Promising Outlook For Thailand’s Aviation Industry

The surge of interest from 86 airlines requesting more than 270,000 slots truly indicates Thailand’s strong appeal in the global aviation market. With travel demand continuing to surge and airlines continuing their route portfolio development, the Summer 2026 season is shaping up to be one of the most active periods in Thai history. Stronger connectivity, additional routes, and new additions to participating airlines place Thailand’s aviation and tourism sectors on track for a substantial jump in the coming year.