NEW DELHI, 3 September 2025: Air India Express commenced direct flights from Ahmedabad and Chandigarh on Monday, connecting directly to Bengaluru and enhancing access from these cities to the country’s tech capital.
The airline will operate twice-daily services from Chandigarh and daily services from Ahmedabad, with the Ahmedabad-Bengaluru service increasing to twice-daily from 16 September, offering greater convenience for both business and leisure travellers.
This network expansion includes upcoming services between Dehradun and Bengaluru, which are set to commence on 15 September.
The inaugural flight from Chandigarh, flagged off by Air India Express Managing Director Aloke Singh, departed from Chandigarh Airport at 1640 and landed in Bengaluru at 1940. The first Ahmedabad-Bengaluru flight took off at 1100 and arrived at 1325.
With these new flights, passengers from Ahmedabad can also access convenient one-stop connections via Bengaluru to 26 domestic destinations and three international destinations, while passengers from Chandigarh can connect to 22 domestic destinations and Kathmandu.
Bengaluru is the largest domestic hub of Air India Express, with over 405 weekly flights connecting 34 domestic destinations.
Travellers booking on these routes can also explore ‘Xpress Holidays’, the airline’s holiday platform offering curated travel experiences. The packages include flights, accommodations, transportation, and activities, and are available under the “Products and Services” section on the Air India Express website.
MUMBAI, 3 September 2025: In a strategic initiative to boost travel to Queensland, Australia, from India’s outbound travel market, Thomas Cook (India) Limited and its group company, SOTC Travel, have signed a long-term, multi-pronged MOU with Queensland Tourism (Tourism & Events).
This strategic collaboration will focus on growing Queensland’s visibility and inspiring year-round visitation from India. The MOU was signed by senior leadership from Thomas Cook (India) Limited and SOTC Travel with Queensland’s International Director of Tourism and Events, Katie Mills, in the presence of Queensland Premier and Minister for Veterans David Crisafulli.
Photo credit: Thomas Cook India.
This multi-pronged long-term MOU will focus on content, education & training programmes and joint marketing, leveraging Thomas Cook India and SOTC Travel’s strategic phygital model (range of digital platforms and extensive pan-India retail network) to position Queensland as an ideal destination for leisure, MICE, B-leisure, and sports tourism across India’s metro, mini-metro, and Tier 2 and 3 markets.
Home to UNESCO World Heritage sites like the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest, Queensland offers travellers a wide range of unique experiences. The Gold Coast is known for its theme parks, beaches, and adventure activities, while the Whitsundays are renowned for their white-sand island stays and sailing opportunities. Brisbane’s modern, cosmopolitan touch, with its riverfront precincts, diverse dining, rooftop bars, and nightlife, Cairns, and Port Douglas serve as gateways to reef and rainforest exploration.
Queensland appeals to all traveller segments, including multi-generational families, couples, young Indians, millennials, Gen Z, and MICE groups. In addition, sports tourism is fueled by India’s love for cricket and global sporting events, such as the upcoming 2032 Brisbane Olympic Games.
Thomas Cook (India) Limited, President & Country Head – Holidays, MICE, Visa, Rajeev Kale said: “Experiential travel is a key demand driver, highlighted in our India Holiday Report – with 75% respondents seeking experiences over traditional tours. And Queensland offers just this: from spectacular natural vistas, world-class gastronomy, to global sporting events and more.
Our MOU with Queensland is an excellent opportunity to expand our product portfolio and showcase Queensland as a year-round destination. We intend to create innovative, immersive, experience-led itineraries that appeal to our range of segments across multi-generational families, millennials and GenZ, couples, working professionals and our powerful MICE corporates.”
SOTC Travel Limited, President & Country Head – Holidays and Corporate Tours, SD Nandakumar said:” With our powerful legacy of over 75 years and our extensive pan-India reach, we look forward to inspiring Indians, not just from metros, but also our regional tier 2 and 3 markets. Our strategy will focus on the key pivots of product development, education, and marketing communications.
“We intend to spotlight Queensland’s iconic natural beauty while also showcasing the state’s hidden gems and exciting experiences – ensuring truly memorable and repeat visitations.”
Tourism and Events Queensland CEO, Craig Davidson, added: “This strategic connection with Thomas Cook India and SOTC Travel is a powerful step forward in our mission to position Queensland as the destination of choice for Indian travellers. From the Great Barrier Reef to the Scenic Rim, Queensland offers unforgettable experiences across every season. Through collaborative marketing, education and content creation, we’re excited to inspire more Indian visitors to discover ‘Australia’s Holiday Feeling’, which can only be experienced in Queensland.”
SINGAPORE, 3 September 2025: Drukair will resume its seasonal flights from Paro, Bhutan, to Bangkok with a stop in Gaya, India, from 1 December 2025 to the end of March 2026.
The twice-weekly flights, using a 111-seat A319, will serve Buddhist pilgrimage tours originating in Bangkok, featuring a land tour from Gaya to Bodh Gaya, India, before returning to Gaya to connect with Drukair’s flight to Bhutan.
Photo credit: Andrew J Wood. Bhutan’s impressive Punakha Dzong is the second-oldest and second-largest dzong in Bhutan, and one of its most majestic structures.
Paro-Gaya-Bangkok
KB122 departs Paro (PBH) at 1430 and arrives in Gaya (GAY) at 1520 (Wednesday and Sunday). KB122 departs Gaya (GAY) at 1600 and arrives in Bangkok (BKK) at 2050 (Wednesday and Sunday). Flight time is three hours and 10 minutes.
Bangkok-Gaya-Paro
KB123 departs Bangkok at 1005 and arrives in Gaya (GAY) at 1145 (Monday and Thursday). KB123 departs Gaya (GAY) at 1225 and arrives in Paro (PBH) at 1405 (Monday and Thursday). The flight time is approximately one hour and 10 minutes.
Planning a Buddhist pilgrimage tour from Bangkok to Gaya, India, and then to Paro, Bhutan, in December 2025, creates a beautiful and spiritually enriching journey.
Orientation
Bodh Gaya in northern India is one of the most significant sites in Buddhism, as it is where Siddhartha Gautama attained enlightenment under the Bodhi tree. Pilgrimage tours to Gaya visit Bodh Gaya, located 15 km from the airport, before exploring other renowned sites in the “Buddhist Circuit,” including Varanasi, Rajgir, and Nalanda.
Bhutan is a Buddhist kingdom renowned for its serene landscapes, monasteries, and the famous Tiger’s Nest (Paro Taktsang) monastery. Buddhist pilgrimage tours to Bhutan focus on its unique culture and sacred sites, accessible from Paro, a historic city and home to the country’s international airport, 47 km from the capital Thimphu.
December 2025 is considered a good time to visit both India and Bhutan. The weather is generally pleasant and dry, making it ideal for sightseeing and trekking.
Tour options and itineraries
While there are many tour operators offering packages for either India or Bhutan, it’s less common to find a single, pre-packaged tour that originates in Bangkok and features both Gaya, India, and Paro, Bhutan, in one seamless itinerary.
Here are some examples of available tours and how they might fit into your plan, sourced from tour companies with publicly accessible website information.
Tours focused on the Buddhist circuit in India
Maha Tare Buddhist Centre: This organisation is offering a “Bodhgaya Pilgrimage Funds” tour from 3 to 10 December 2025. The itinerary focuses on Bodh Gaya and its surrounding area, including visits to the Mahabodhi Temple, the Ganges River, and the ruins of Nalanda University.
Max Holidays and Buddha Trails, India: These companies offer various Buddhist pilgrimage tours in India, including multi-day trips that cover Bodhgaya, Rajgir, and Sarnath. You can find packages ranging from five to 15 days.
Tours focused on Bhutan
Asia Odyssey Travel and Heavenly Bhutan: These are examples of tour operators that offer Buddhist pilgrimage and cultural tours in Bhutan. Many of these tours depart from Bangkok, which serves as a major gateway for flights to Paro, Bhutan.
Intrepid Travel Australia and Veena World India: These companies also offer a variety of tour packages in Bhutan, featuring itineraries that include Paro, Thimphu, and other important sites. You can find tours of varying durations, from short getaways to longer, more comprehensive trips.
Creating your itinerary
A logical way to plan your pilgrimage to Bodh Gaya, India, and Bhutan would be to book your flights and tour components separately. You can book Drukair’s Bangkok-Gaya-Paro service twice a week and take a land tour to Bodh Gaya, returning to Gaya to connect with KB123 to Paro, Bhutan.
For the return to Bangkok, Drukair is scheduling just three direct flights from Paro (PBH) to Bangkok (BKK) on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday during December. However, there is also the option of flying to Bangkok via Gaya on Wednesday and Sunday.
The airline schedules six flights weekly on the Paro-Bangkok direct route during September and October and cuts back to five weekly in November and then three direct flights to the Thai capital in December.
Check-list
Visas: You will need to obtain visas for both India and Bhutan. The process and requirements vary by nationality, so it’s crucial to check with the respective embassies or consulates well in advance.
Customisation: Because a combined tour package is rare, you will likely need to work with a travel agent or tour operator specialising in custom itineraries. They can help you book flights and connect different tour segments to create a single, cohesive trip.
Tour Highlights: Be sure to check the specific itinerary of any tour you consider. A trip focused on Gaya should include the Mahabodhi Temple, while a Paro tour should include a hike to the Tiger’s Nest.
TOKYO, 2 September 2025: JTB Corp announced last Friday that it has reached an agreement to acquire all shares of Northstar Travel Group (publisher of Travel Weekly Asia based in Singapore).
NTG operates a comprehensive B2B media business targeting the travel and tourism industry, delivering integrated information services and marketing solutions through events, digital media, and industry research.
Photo credit: JTB Corp. Northstar Travel Group heads east to new ownership under JTB Corp.
JTB forecasts that the travel and tourism market is poised for sustained long-term growth not only in the US — NTG’s primary target market — but across global markets, including Japan.
JTB says it will leverage NTG’s cutting-edge insights into global industry trends, extensive industry networks, and sophisticated marketing solutions to accelerate the growth of the JTB Group while contributing to the advancement of the tourism industry.
Headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, the global tour operator emphasised the acquisition would expand NTG’s established brand presence into new regions and business domains.
JTB’s official press statement noted that it would “enhance digital product offerings, including media solutions and information services through AI and advanced data utilisation, while strengthening customer services and solutions across the entire JTB Group by leveraging NTG’s global network and advanced marketing capabilities”
The acquisition is subject to approval by relevant competition authorities and compliance with other local legal requirements.
JTB said it would operate NTG “as an independent, wholly owned subsidiary and will continue to be the leading independent, trusted voice of the travel and tourism industry.”
JTB Corp, headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is headed by President and CEO Eijiro Yamakita. Founded on March 12, 1912, it declared a capital of JPY100 million as of March 2025. Corporate website: https://www.jtbcorp.jp/en/.
Established on 6 August 2001, Northstar Travel Group is headquartered in New Jersey USA, headed by CEO Jason Young.Corporate website: https://www.northstartravelgroup.com/
Northstar Travel Group owns 14 media brands, including Travel Weekly, Business Travel News, and Phocuswright.
KUCHING, 2 September 2025: The Sarawak Tourism Board (STB), in collaboration with Royal Brunei Airlines, successfully concluded its Taiwan B2B Session 2025, a dual-city business networking initiative aimed at enhancing trade relations with the Taiwanese travel industry, last week.
Hosted on 26 August in Taipei and 28 August in Hualien, the event marked a significant step forward in Sarawak’s efforts to expand its market footprint in North Asia.
Sarawak delegates with Royal Brunei Airlines and participants during the B2B Session at Courtyard Taipei Downtown by Marriott, Taipei.
The seminar in Taipei, held at the Courtyard Taipei Downtown by Marriott, welcomed travel professionals from the capital and northern Taiwan, while the Hualien session at Fullon Hotel attracted agents from eastern Taiwan. Each session featured a structured programme comprising destination presentations, business matching activities, and strategic networking opportunities designed to foster new partnerships and deepen existing ones.
A key highlight of the Hualien session was a special influencer storytelling segment, which leveraged the voices of travel content creators to amplify Sarawak’s brand story across digital platforms. This segment aimed to boost consumer confidence and destination appeal by presenting Sarawak through the lens of authentic, first-hand travel experiences.
The Taiwan B2B Session 2025 achieved several strategic objectives, including facilitating direct B2B engagement between Sarawak tourism operators and Taiwan’s outbound agents, expanding trade relationships across both mature and emerging markets, and reinforcing Sarawak’s unique selling points under the CANFF pillars, which are Culture, Adventure, Nature, Food, and Festivals.
Sarawak delegates with Royal Brunei Airlines and participants during the B2B Session at Fullon Hotel, Hualien.
The collaboration with Royal Brunei Airlines further emphasised Sarawak’s growing connectivity via Brunei, positioning Kuching as a convenient and attractive destination accessible through Bandar Seri Begawan. RBA’s partnership supported the promotion of multi-destination travel packages, offering added value for Taiwanese agents and travellers seeking enriched Southeast Asian itineraries.
“Our presence here in Taiwan is not just a campaign — it’s a long-term commitment built on trust, consistency, and shared opportunity. Taiwan is a key market for us, and through this seminar and our collaboration with Royal Brunei Airlines, we are fostering meaningful connections that open new doors for multi-destination travel. Sarawak is ready to welcome travellers with our culture, nature, and warm hospitality,” said Sarawak Tourism Board Marketing Director (North Asia and New Markets) Dylan Redas Noel.
Sarawak Tourism Board capped off its Taiwan engagement with a courtesy visit to the Hualien County Government on 29 August 2025, reciprocating their visit to Sarawak on 13 September 2024. The meeting served as a networking platform to further strengthen ties and explore potential avenues for collaboration in tourism promotion between the two destinations.
The Taiwan B2B Session 2025 and the courtesy visit to the Hualien County Government collectively reaffirmed Sarawak’s standing as a vibrant, authentic, and accessible tourism destination. Together, they marked another step toward long-term market development in Taiwan, underscoring STB’s commitment to building lasting relationships in this key North Asian market.
SINGAPORE, 2 September 2025: Ticketing specialist Hahnair has integrated 20 new partner airlines into its global network of over 350 airline partners as of the end of July this year.
With its extensive technology infrastructure, Hahnair enables partner carriers to sell tickets through more than 100,000 travel agencies in 190 markets.
“We are proud to offer airlines of any size and business model tailor-made solutions for all their distribution needs”, Hahnair Vice President, Airline Business, Adriana Carrelli, explained. “By forming an interline agreement with Hahnair, airlines can unlock secondary markets for indirect ticket sales. Airlines without GDS connections can outsource their entire indirect distribution and make their flights available under the codes H1 or X1 in all major GDSs. And finally, airlines that are looking for a truly global distribution strategy can combine the Hahnair solutions, thereby strategically closing distribution gaps with H1-Air and X1-Air, while building on the potential of primary and secondary markets with HR-169.”
“With eight new interline partners, nine new partners available in all GDSs under the X1 code, one new H1-Air partner, and three dual partners available under both their own code and our X1-Air product, we are proud to enrich our offer with even more ticketing options for our travel agency partners,” Hahnair Vice President Agency Distribution Kimberley Long noted. “This has been an extremely successful year for Hahnair so far, and we are confident that we will continue to grow our portfolio with an attractive line-up of partners throughout the rest of the year.”
Hahnair is 100% owned by the Hahnair Group, an international corporation based in Dreieich, near Frankfurt, Germany. The Group has offices worldwide, including Minneapolis, Montevideo, Casablanca, New Delhi, Manila, and Johannesburg.
SINGAPORE, 2 September 2025: Banyan Group, an independent global hospitality company, has unveiled 100 Journeys — a hundred days of global celebrations across its portfolio in the lead-up to the grand opening of its 100th property.
This milestone reflects three decades of growth and purpose-driven hospitality, from the group’s first resort in Phuket to 100 resorts and hotels under 12 brands across 20 destinations, including its latest landmark, Mandai Rainforest Resort by Banyan Tree in Singapore.
The celebrations will culminate in a week-long festival at Mandai Rainforest Resort from 27 November to 3 December 2025, featuring discovery trails, wellbeing sessions, and community activities. Driven by Banyan Group’s commitment to stewardship and shared impact, and supported by the group’s corporate partners, proceeds from the festival tickets will be matched 1:1 by Banyan Group and donated to the President’s Challenge, an annual initiative led by the President of Singapore to support local charities and social service organisations.
Celebrating shared stories
Running from 1 September to 9 December 2025, 100 Journeys is a global celebration of shared stories, personal discoveries, and lasting impact shaped by guests, associates, and communities. Each destination invites travellers to engage in authentic cultural exchanges, make personal discoveries, and experience how thoughtful hospitality supports local communities, with every property contributing to a larger narrative of respectful exploration and collective storytelling.
Highlights include Tibetan black pottery-making at Banyan Tree Ringha, cooking local meals at Cassia Phuket, and practising zen meditation at a temple near Banyan Tree Higashiyama Kyoto. Guests may also explore ancient rock formations at Banyan Tree AlUla, stroll through Vietnam’s golden rice terraces at Garrya Mu Cang Chai, join a bamboo rafting experience at Banyan Tree Yangshuo, or dive on a sunken shipwreck in the Maldives at Dhawa Ihuru.
At Mandai Rainforest Resort by Banyan Tree, new nature and photography workshops celebrate Singapore’s biodiversity. At the same time, guided eco-walks through olive groves and historic trails at Angsana Corfu invite guests to give back to nature through mindful conservation. Each discovery is crafted to spark curiosity, deepen cultural understanding, and inspire personal reflection.
KUALA LUMPUR, 2 September 2025: AirAsia X has reported its unaudited financial results for the second quarter ended 30 June 2025 (2Q2025).
The company recorded a turnover of MYR660.8 million in 2Q2025, marginally lower year-on-year as capacity rose by 6% YoY to 1.12 million seats in a softer fare environment due to the low season.
Passenger traffic grew 6% YoY to 935,105 passengers, maintaining a sound passenger load factor of 83%, unchanged YoY despite the increased capacity.
During 2Q2025, the average base fare declined to MYR405, impacted by historical seasonality and cautious travel sentiments following the concerns about earthquakes in Japan. In managing seasonality, the company had also augmented its load-active, yield-passive strategy, leveraging the advantageous fuel price environment. Ancillary revenue bolstered the company’s performance with revenue per passenger up by 4% YoY to MYR257 and total ancillary revenue rising by 10% YoY, driven by higher passenger volumes and enhanced product offerings, particularly in the duty-free and merchandise segments.
Net profit rose sharply to MYR35.22 million against last year’s MYR4.82 million, boosted by favourable net foreign exchange gains. In 2Q2025, the company’s net operating profit improved 26% YoY to MYR1.38 million, supported by lower fuel prices. The company’s cost per available-seat-kilometres (ASK) (CASK) reduced by 13% YoY to 12.05 sen. At the same time, CASK ex-fuel stood at 6.38 sen, up by 9% YoY, reflecting operational ramp-up and higher maintenance expenses over the last 12 months.
In terms of capacity and network, the company’s ASK grew by 10% YoY to 4,851 million as AirAsia X continued to observe a strong PLF of beyond 85% from its East Asian routes in Japan, China and South Korea, driven by the peak spring travel season during the quarter.
AirAsia X Thailand (TAAX), the company’s associate, posted a revenue of MYR372.82 million and an operating loss of MYR13.2 million in 2Q2025. Passenger traffic during the quarter declined by 12% YoY to 318,257 passengers as seat capacity reduced by 5% YoY to 407,360 seats. TAAX’s PLF stood at 78% this quarter as performance was pressured by softened travel demand to Thailand overall following the earthquake incident in Bangkok and related security concerns.
The average fare remained firm at MYR690 during the quarter under review, and TAAX posted a net profit of MYR10.58 million, buoyed by net foreign exchange gains.
As of 30 June 2025, AirAsia X’s total fleet stood at 19 A330 aircraft, and of these, 18 aircraft were activated and operational. TAAX maintained a fleet of nine A330s after returning one aircraft to lessor during the quarter.
AirAsia X CEO Benyamin Ismail commented: “AirAsia X delivered resilient performance this quarter with a sound PLF of 83%, in line with capacity growth despite the seasonally softer second quarter. The Group’s operations remained profitable, even as one aircraft is pending reactivation and fares are softer, as the market tries to boost demand by taking advantage of the lower fuel price environment in 2Q2025.
“The final aircraft reactivation, initially planned for June 2025, has been deferred to the second half of the year due to the well-documented global MRO backlogs and spare parts shortages. While we are eager to return the aircraft to service, the safety of our guests and crew is of paramount importance, and the Group remains committed to returning the aircraft to service without compromise.
“In terms of network, the Group advanced its momentum, led by the long-awaited recovery in China, with routes recording PLF scaling 90%. During the quarter under review, the Group introduced additional flights to Australia to capitalise on winter demand, alongside the launch of services to Karachi, Pakistan. Following the success of Almaty, Kazakhstan, we continue our expansion into Central Asia with the launch in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, set for October this year.
“Looking ahead, we have also announced the launch of the much-anticipated flights to Istanbul, Türkiye in 4Q2025, marking our return to the western region after more than a decade. This milestone serves to strengthen the Group’s Fly-Thru connectivity across the wider AirAsia network, which already contributes approximately 20% of our passenger traffic and links over 140 destinations in ASEAN and beyond.
“For this quarter, ancillary revenue continued to drive the Group’s margins as we enhanced product personalisation and improved value bundling; the team is consistently reviewing our ancillary strategy to ensure maximised uptake. Combined with disciplined management of cost and operational efficiencies, we are confident that these efforts position us well for the busier quarter of the year. With recent favourable jet fuel prices and a stronger Malaysian Ringgit, the company prepares to tap into the further tailwinds for sustainable growth in the year ahead.”
SINGAPORE, 2 September 2025: Vietjet Aviation Joint Stock Company has released its audited financial report for the first half of 2025, reporting strong growth and reinforcing its position as a rising global carrier.
Vietjet now operates four direct services linking Singapore with Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Phu Quoc and Da Nang and is boosting its services to Da Nang and Phu Quoc with 49 round-trip flights weekly between Singapore and Vietnam by the end of this year. The airline’s performance reflects Vietnam’s emergence as a key aviation hub in Asia and globally, as it expands its international network with a new direct route to Manila, Philippines.
Photo credit: Vietjet.
Robust financial growth
In the first six months of 2025, Vietjet achieved air transport revenue of VND35.601 trillion (SGD1.73 billion), with a pre-tax profit of nearly VND1.6 trillion (SGD77.80 million), marking a 37% year-on-year increase. Consolidated revenue was VND35.837 trillion (SGD1.74 billion), with a pre-tax profit surpassing VND1.651 trillion (SGD80.26 million), reflecting a staggering 65% YoY growth.
During this period, Vietjet operated 79,000 flights, transporting 14.4 million passengers and contributing over VND4.528 trillion (SGD219.83 million) in taxes and fees. The company’s financial indicators remain strong, with excellent liquidity and consolidated assets exceeding VND112 trillion (SGD5.44 billion).
Fleet expansion and strategic investments
Vietjet continued its fleet expansion by ordering 20 A330neo aircraft from Airbus, bringing its total A330neo order to 40 and making it the airline with the largest A330neo order in the world.
At the 2025 Paris Air Show, Vietjet secured a historic order for 100 A321neo aircraft, along with 50 purchase options — the largest deal in the industry — positioning Vietjet among the top 10 airlines globally in terms of aircraft orders.
Additionally, Vietjet and Rolls-Royce have signed an agreement for 40 Trent 7000 engines to power 20 wide-body Airbus A330neo aircraft, bringing the total number of Trent 7000 engines ordered by the airline to 80.
Vietjet has broken ground on its Aircraft Maintenance Technical Centre at the under-construction Long Thanh International Airport, featuring Hangars III and IV, which are capable of servicing 10 aircraft simultaneously. Additionally, self-service ground operations have been rolled out at major airports to optimise operations and enhance the passenger experience.
International flights
Vietjet will launch a new direct service linking Ho Chi Minh City with Manila, beginning 22 November 2025, with five weekly round-trip flights. This route marks the airline’s first direct connection between Vietnam and the Philippines. Together with increases in flights between Vietnam and Singapore, this connectivity will support seamless travel, trade, and cultural exchange in Southeast Asia.
BANGKOK, 2 September 2025: Local media reports last week quoted the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) saying it has suspended Nok Air’s international flights and banned the airline from expanding its route network, citing a alleged failure to meet safety standards.
Nok Air hasn’t operated any international flights since the winter season 2024-2025. Still, it filed an advance scheduled timetable earlier this year that showed the airline intended to resume daily flights to four destinations: Nanning, Nanjing, and Zhengzhou in China, and Hyderabad in India, starting on 27 October 2025, for the duration of the winter timetable, October 2025 to March 2026.
That plan has been scuttled by the CAAT ruling on 28 August 2025, which identified deficiencies in Nok Air’s operations. The ruling alleged a high rate of incidents, including in-flight engine shutdowns, hard landings, and runway excursions, that occurred between 2023 and 2025.
Local media (The Nation and Bangkok Post) suggested the CAAT had identified a significant number of resignations from pilots, flight instructors, and inspectors, which could raise concerns about the airline’s safety culture and the risk of having a less experienced workforce.
The CAAT move comes just before a scheduled audit of Thailand’s aviation safety system by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). CAAT’s actions are seen as a way to ensure full compliance with international standards.
Nok Air’s CEO has stated that Nok Air had already voluntarily ceased international flights in June 2025 due to the low season. The CAAT suspension affects Nok Air’s planned resumption of international routes this October to China and India. These two geo-markets could shore up Nok Air’s earnings in the current fiscal year.
Media reports noted that CAAT has given Nok Air just one week to address the safety deficiencies. The government agency has stated that the suspension of planned international flights will remain in place until the airline demonstrates that it has implemented the necessary safety audits.
Information regarding the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) suspending Nok Air’s international flights has been widely reported by multiple news outlets in Thailand and internationally.
While these reports cite statements from CAAT officials, such as Director-General Air Chief Marshal Manat Chavanaprayoon, and reference an official letter sent to Nok Air, a direct, official announcement or press release about the suspension from the CAAT website itself is not readily available through a public search.
Nok Air, in a statement posted on its Facebook page, acknowledged documents from the Civil Aviation Office of Thailand (KPO) regarding flight operational requirements had been filed with Nok Air. Still, it wished to “reassure all passengers that it is operating all domestic routes… For international routes, plans will be announced again once the documents are completed.”
