Thai Airways to resume Bangkok-Auckland service by Mar-2027
Thailand's Government and New Zealand's Government signed (21-Aug-2026) a joint declaration to launch a strategic partnership between the two countries. Thailand's Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul announced: "Thai Airways plans to resume direct flights between Bangkok and Auckland, targeted for Mar-2027", adding: "This renewed connectivity will support tourism, trade, business, education and people-to-people exchanges". New Zealand's Prime Minister Christopher Luxon commented: "Thai Airways served Auckland for more than 30 years before the COVID-19 pandemic interrupted the service. Its return is great news for tourism and trade - making it easier to connect, restoring an important air-freight link and strengthening connections through Bangkok to wider Asia". There are no operators on the Bangkok-Auckland route at present, according to OAG. [more - original PR] [more - original PR - II]
Background ✨
Thailand and New Zealand’s leaders previously agreed to upgrade bilateral ties to a strategic partnership by 2026, while also backing the resumption of direct air services and visa facilitation, targeting 100,000 New Zealand visitors to Thailand and 40,000 Thai tourists to New Zealand by 2025.1 ACI Asia-Pacific and Middle East later confirmed Thai Airways’ intention to resume daily Bangkok Suvarnabhumi-Auckland services from 2H2026, noting the route supported about 50,000 New Zealand visitors in 2019 from markets including Thailand, India and Europe.2