Phuket, 27 October 2026 – The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) welcomed Kuwait Airways’ inaugural flight KU407 from Kuwait at Phuket International Airport, introducing a non-stop route to Southern Thailand. Operating twice weekly alongside the airline’s six existing Kuwait–Bangkok flights, the service expands its Thailand network to eight flights per week.
The inaugural flight arrived at 14.55 Hrs., where passengers and crew were greeted and presented with commemorative souvenirs. The welcoming delegation included Ms. Ratchadaporn Ngarmwiriya, TAT Deputy Executive Director for the Americas, Middle East and Africa Region, and Ms. Siriwan Seeharach, Director of the TAT Phuket Office, together with representatives of the airline and tourism partners.
The new direct service creates opportunities to attract more Kuwaiti visitors seeking quality accommodation, family holidays and personalised experiences. TAT will work with airline and travel trade partners to develop tailored offers that encourage longer stays and greater visitor spending. This supports our 2027 Rebalance Market Portfolio direction, connecting high-value travel demand with opportunities for local businesses.
Kuwait Airways operates the route every Tuesday and Saturday using a 278-seat Airbus A330-900neo, adding 556 inbound seats per week. Flight KU407 departs Kuwait at 03.30 Hrs. on Tuesdays and 03.25 Hrs. on Saturdays, arriving at 14.55 Hrs. and 14.50 Hrs., respectively. Return flight KU408 departs Phuket at 16.15 Hrs. and arrives in Kuwait at 20.35 Hrs. on both days.
The new service increases the airline’s weekly inbound capacity to Thailand by 27.7 per cent, from 2,004 seats on its Bangkok route to 2,560 seats across both destinations. Kuwait Airways also plans to increase the new route to up to four flights weekly during the peak season from 2 December 2026 to 3 February 2027, subject to final scheduling and aircraft deployment.
Non-stop access removes the need for connections through regional aviation hubs or Bangkok. The route also supports multi-destination holidays across Phuket, Phang-nga and Krabi, combining beach resorts, private villas, halal dining, family activities and wellness services suited to Kuwaiti travellers.
Kuwait is a high-spending Middle Eastern market for Thailand, with average expenditure of 96,590 Baht per person per trip and stays averaging 13.14 nights. Leisure travel accounts for 83.74 per cent of visits, while 35.91 per cent travel with family or relatives. Phuket attracts 35.06 per cent of Kuwaiti visitors and Krabi 10.93 per cent.
From 1 January to 20 October 2026, Thailand welcomed 48,049 Kuwaiti visitors, with full-year arrivals projected at 55,300. Travellers typically book around 28 days in advance, providing opportunities for targeted travel promotions and packages as the new service becomes established.
