Bangkok, 23 October 2025 – The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) welcomes the launch of five new direct services by Norse Atlantic Airways (Norse Atlantic), expanding air access from the United Kingdom, Sweden, and Norway to Bangkok and Phuket for the 2025/2026 winter season. The development further enhances Thailand’s long-haul connectivity from Europe, aligning with the government’s “Big Impact, Act Fast” policy to drive international arrivals.
Mrs. Chiravadee Khunsub, TAT Deputy Governor for International Marketing – Europe, America, Middle East, and Africa, said “The addition of these new Norse Atlantic Airways routes reflects growing confidence in Thailand as a premier long-haul destination. This expansion provides travellers from the UK and Northern Europe with greater convenience and affordability while supporting TAT’s strategy to diversify source markets and extend visitor stays across the country.”
Founded in 2021, Norse Atlantic Airways is a long-haul carrier specialising in affordable direct services to popular global destinations. The airline will introduce five inaugural routes to Thailand, all operated by Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners offering 338 seats.
From the United Kingdom, Norse Atlantic will operate between London Gatwick and Bangkok from 26 October 2025, with three to five weekly flights. The route, also served by British Airways and upgraded to a year-round service from April 2026, will now offer travellers a more economical alternative. The Manchester–Bangkok service will commence on 26 November 2025, operating weekly through March 2026. Manchester will become the only UK airport outside London with direct flights to Bangkok. Norse Atlantic reported that more than 100,000 passengers travel indirectly between Manchester and Bangkok each year, and the new route aims to meet this growing long-haul market segment.
From Northern Europe, Norse Atlantic has begun twice-weekly Stockholm–Bangkok flights as of 22 October 2025 and will increase frequency to four flights per week from December. Strengthening its commitment to the Swedish and Norwegian markets, the airline will also launch a new Stockholm–Phuket route on 4 December 2025 and an Oslo–Phuket service on 8 December 2025, both operating weekly. Together, these routes further reinforce Thailand’s appeal as a leading winter-sun destination for European travellers seeking affordable long-haul connections.
To commemorate the inaugural Stockholm–Bangkok flight, the fully booked Flight NO191 carrying 338 passengers was warmly welcomed upon arrival today at Suvarnabhumi Airport by TAT executives and Mr. Bård Nordhagen, Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) of Norse Atlantic Airways.
Beyond Norse Atlantic’s expansion, several other airlines are also strengthening air links to Thailand this winter. Arkia Israeli Airlines will commence twice-weekly Tel Aviv–Bangkok flights from 26 November 2025, while Air France will launch three weekly Paris Charles de Gaulle–Phuket services from 28 November 2025, further expanding access from key European and Middle Eastern gateways.
The 2025/2026 winter season marks a milestone for Thailand’s global air connectivity. Alongside the new European routes, Etihad Airways has inaugurated its Abu Dhabi–Krabi service on 9 October 2025, while United Airlines’ inaugural Los Angeles–Bangkok flight will arrive at Suvarnabhumi Airport on 26 October 2025 – restoring direct connectivity between Thailand and the United States after more than a decade. These developments underscore the continued confidence of international carriers in Thailand’s strong tourism potential and the growing demand across key long-haul markets.
Travel from both the United Kingdom and Sweden continues to show strong growth. From January to September 2025, Thailand welcomed 757,960 visitors from the United Kingdom, up 13.66% year-on-year, and 145,188 visitors from Sweden to mid-October, an 8.56% increase from the same period last year. Swedish travellers spend an average of 65,000 Baht per trip and stay around 19.9 days, generating more than 14.6 billion Baht in revenue. Forward bookings from the UK are up 10% for October–December 2025 and 13% for January–March 2026, reflecting continued confidence in Thailand as a long-haul destination. Both markets show rising interest in safety, independent travel, and responsible tourism, reinforcing Thailand’s position as a sustainable, high-value destination.
