United Airlines launches first flight to Thailand in 11 years!

United Airlines launches first flight to Thailand in 11 years!

A significant step for aviation connectivity between the United States and Thailand was completed today, October 26, 2025. United Airlines has started a direct flight to Thailand again after an eleven-year break. Flight UA820 connects Los Angeles to Bangkok and is the first U.S. flight to return to Thailand since the airline suspended service in March 2014. The evening flight departs Los Angeles at 11:15 p.m. local time, stops in Hong Kong, and then arrives in Bangkok at 11:25 a.m. the next day. With a capacity of 257 seats, the airline now offers travelers more options to plan their trip to Thailand.

To welcome the first flight, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) organized a celebratory reception committee. Upon arrival in Bangkok, the plane was greeted with a water arch, which not only looks celebratory but also symbolizes the return of US tourists to Thailand.

Increasing demand for tourism

The return of the United flagship is part of a larger strategy by TAT known as “Airline Focus”. This strategy aims to increase the number of international flights to Thailand. According to TAT, international airlines from East Asia, South Asia, Europe and the US have already increased their flight routes and seat capacities in the fourth quarter of 2025. This reflects the growing demand for foreign tourists, especially during the year-end period. Already from January to October 2025, 808,288 US tourists traveled to Thailand, an increase of 5% compared to the previous year. TAT plans to bring about 1.09 million US tourists to Thailand by the end of this year, which could generate an estimated revenue of 62 billion baht.

TAT Governor Thapanee Kiatphaibool explained that the strategy also aims to promote charter flights from the region. A particularly interesting project is the Thailand Summer Blast, which specifically targets charter flights from secondary cities in China.

Bangkok as a top travel destination

Bangkok has established itself as one of the most popular travel destinations worldwide, ranking 17th among the top 100 cities in 2024. This popularity is the result of a strong tourism market, up to a third of which consists of guests from developed nations in Asia and Australia. The city attracts with its magnificent temples, the royal palace and a variety of first-class shopping malls.

The development of tourism in Thailand has a long history, dating back to the early years of mass tourism in the 1970s. At that time, many US soldiers spent their vacations in Thailand, which helped the country gain international fame. The decline in tourist activity during the 2020/21 Corona pandemic gave nature the opportunity to recover and created a younger, more environmentally conscious tourism trend.

It remains to be seen how these trends will affect the further development of the tourism sector. But the measures taken by the TAT seem to be showing the first positive effects. Links to the detailed information can be found here: Today, Nation Thailand and Ländedaten.info.