AirAsia X Thailand Introduces Three New Journeys Amid Ongoing Debate over Tourism Revitalization
Thai AirAsia X is set to broaden its horizons, announcing the launch of three new international routes from Bangkok's Don Mueang Airport. The airline is preparing to venture into two undisclosed European destinations in 2026, in addition to the already announced Almaty, Kazakhstan; Sendai, Japan; and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The Almaty route marks a significant milestone for the AirAsia Group, marking its first service to Kazakhstan. Kazakhstan's Chargé d'Affaires Zhandos Ryskulov has praised the new route, stating it supports President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev's goal of transforming Kazakhstan into a "major Eurasian aviation hub."
Saudi Arabia's Deputy Head of Mission Adil Abdullah Alfwzan also welcomed the Riyadh route, highlighting Riyadh's hosting of World Expo 2030 as a draw for business and leisure travellers.
However, the third quarter results of Thai AirAsia X were less than stellar, according to CEO Pattra Boosarawongse, with the poor results attributed to the traditional low season and earthquake safety concerns in Japan that deterred travellers. Despite this, Pattra remains optimistic about the new routes, expecting them to help restore revenue growth for the airline.
Thai AirAsia X plans to add two more Airbus A330s to its fleet in the fourth quarter, bringing the total to 11 aircraft. The airline will operate four flights weekly on each route using Airbus A330 aircraft. Fares for the Sendai route start from 4,990 baht, for Almaty from 6,690 baht, and for Riyadh from 7,190 baht.
The Sendai route marks Thai AirAsia X's seventh direct connection to Japan, reflecting the airline's commitment to strengthening its ties with the country. Malaysia, China, South Korea, Japan, and Australia have participated in the future flight routes of Thai AirAsia X to support the expansion of the company's network.
Despite the expansion, Thailand's stronger baht should boost outbound Thai travel demand, particularly to Japan, providing some offset to weaker inbound tourism performance. Malaysia, India, and China remain the top sources of international tourists to Thailand, though numbers remain below pre-pandemic levels.
Interestingly, many previous visitors have shifted to Vietnam, attracted by new developments and destinations. Thai AirAsia X expects to transport 1.7 million passengers this year with an average load factor of 82% across all routes.
Despite the mixed financial performance, with the CEO acknowledging that overall 2025 revenues will likely match 2024 levels at 13 billion baht, generating profits of 75 million baht, Pattra remains hopeful about the future. Thai AirAsia X will add three more aircraft to support expansion in 2026. The airline is indeed gearing up for an exciting year ahead, with new destinations and growth on the horizon.
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