United Airlines Returns To Bangkok After More Than A Decade

United Airlines has officially returned to Bangkok after an 11-year hiatus, relaunching a service between Los Angeles and the Thai capital via a stopover in Hong Kong. This will be a daily flight operated by the airline’s Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner fleet, which can accommodate up to 257 passengers across three cabin classes.

The United States is one of Thailand’s growing long-haul markets, with a 5% year-over-year increase in visitors from the US so far this year.

United Touches Down In Bangkok After 11 Years Away

The US carrier has restored connectivity between the two countries with the relaunch of its LA-Bangkok service after more than a decade’s absence. Flight UA 820 departed Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) at 23:15 on October 24, arriving at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) at 11:25 on October 26, via a stopover in Hong Kong International Airport (HKG).

The inaugural flight was welcomed in Bangkok by a special ceremony and a traditional water cannon salute, with officials from both the US and Thailand in attendance, including the US ambassador to Thailand, Robert Godec, and TAT governor, Thapanee Kiatphaibool. United received its US Department of Transportation (DOT) approval for the Hong Kong fifth-freedom segment back in April, also getting authorization to fly between Hong Kong and Vietnam.

The service will revolve around tourist and visiting friends and relatives (VFR) traffic, with United last serving Bangkok in 2014 with a stopover at Tokyo Narita. Kiatphaibool commented,

“We are pleased to welcome United Airlines back to Thailand. This route enhances connectivity from the U.S. West Coast and complements the increasing arrivals from North America. It also reinforces Bangkok’s reputation as a leading tourism hub and gateway to diverse destinations across Thailand.”

Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner Flights

United is using its Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft to serve this route, specifically its lower-premium 257-seat widebodies. This aircraft features 48 seats in business class, 21 in premium economy, and 188 in economy class, of which 39 are economy plus seats.

The schedule will involve a late outbound flight out of Los Angeles arriving in Bangkok two days later, while the return journey will be an afternoon departure from Bangkok.

The outbound leg from Los Angeles to Hong Kong clocks in at just under 15 hours, while the connection from Hong Kong to Bangkok is around two hours and 30 minutes. However, the return leg from Hong Kong to Los Angeles can be significantly shorter at under 12 hours.

Could Other US Airlines Follow?

United’s return to Bangkok represents the first service from a US carrier in over a decade, since both United and Delta Air Lines exited the airport in 2014. Delta also flew to Bangkok via Tokyo Narita but dropped the service as it pulled out of its Narita hub. Interestingly, Delta will be launching a direct service between Los Angeles and Hong Kong next summer, but there won’t be an onward leg to Bangkok.

As such, Thailand has been reliant on foreign airlines to provide connectivity with the US via their own hubs. This has included the likes of EVA Air, Japan Airlines, Korean Air and Singapore Airlines, as well as the Middle East ‘Big Three’ – Etihad Airways, Emirates and Qatar Airways. While Thai Airways previously flew to the US, it scrapped these routes in 2015 due to financial problems.

Bangkok has also seen other long-haul growth from North America in recent years with Air Canada’s direct Vancouver-Bangkok service. This is a seasonal route and is also served by the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. With Thailand regaining its FAA Category 1 status in April, there could be more direct North American routes on the horizon.