Thailand, India, China, Japan, Germany, And Kazakhstan Fuel Global Airline Growth As Fleets Expand To Meet Surge In Travel Demand - Travel And Tour World (2025)

Monday, April 21, 2025

Thailand’s airlines are aggressively expanding their fleets to meet the rising travel demand across the Asia-Pacific region, aiming to bring the nation’s tourism back to pre-pandemic levels. Key players like Thai Airways International and Thai AirAsia are at the forefront of this growth, with major fleet expansions planned for 2024 and beyond. These efforts are set to enhance connectivity to high-demand destinations, boosting the airline industry’s capacity to handle the growing number of travelers. With strategic orders and new aircraft on the horizon, Thailand is positioning itself to reclaim its position as a leading global tourism hub.

Thailand’s airlines are quickly increasing their capacity to meet the rising travel demand in the Asia-Pacific region, aiming to restore the country’s tourism to levels seen before the pandemic.The goal is to return to the record high of 39.8 million foreign visitors recorded in 2019.

Thai Airways International, the country’s flagship carrier, is taking the lead with a bold step forward. The airline has secured an agreement to lease nine aircraft, including eight Airbus A330s and one A321, which will be added to its fleet in the third quarter of this year. These new aircraft will support expanded operations to key markets, such as China, India, Japan, and Germany.

Moreover, during the Singapore Airshow in February 2024, Thai Airways made a significant pledge, placing an order for 45 Boeing 787 Dreamliners, with an option to add 35 more. The delivery of these advanced aircraft is set to begin in mid-2027. Thai Airways aims to expand its fleet to 116 planes by 2027, with a broader target of 150 aircraft by 2033.

Meanwhile, budget airline Thai AirAsia is also expanding its fleet, planning to acquire six new aircraft this year, which will bring its total to 66 planes. The expansion will offer 26 million passenger seats, supporting the airline’s expectation of carrying nearly 24 million passengers in 2025. Thai AirAsia plans to add 31 more Airbus A320s and A321s by 2030, ultimately expanding its fleet to 97 aircraft.

Thai AirAsia X, the long-haul arm of Thai AirAsia, is also expanding, with plans to add three to four more Airbus A330s to its existing fleet of nine.. This expansion will enable the carrier to serve new destinations in Japan, Kazakhstan, and the Middle East.

Thailand’s airlines are rapidly expanding their fleets to meet the growing travel demand across the Asia-Pacific, aiming to restore tourism to pre-pandemic levels. Key carriers like Thai Airways and Thai AirAsia are leading the charge with major fleet growth plans.

Bangkok Airways is also enhancing its fleet, set to receive an A319 and an A320 in the second half of this year. Additionally, the airline is set to receive 12 ATR 72-600 aircraft between 2026 and 2028.The airline is anticipating an 8% increase in passenger numbers, reaching 4.7 million.

Thai Lion Air is another player making fleet upgrades, with 14 new jets expected to join its roster in 2024. Currently operating a fleet of 19 Boeing 737-800s and seven Boeing 737-900ERs, the airline anticipates serving 6.6 million passengers this year, marking a 10% increase from 2024’s 6 million.