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Thai Airways head says passenger demand is softening
June 12th 2026
“The consumer has to think twice before spending money, that’s why we saw some slowdown in forward bookings coming in,” Thai Airways CEO Chai Eamsiri told Bloomberg Industries in an exclusive interview. Read More » He said the war in Iran initially boosted sales for the carrier because passengers were looking to bypass Gulf hubs, but now Thai Airways has to contend with lower fares from Middle Eastern airlines. Less affected are sales of premium-class tickets and premium economy tickets. Thai plans to retrofit 14 jets to include a premium economy seat because younger travelers are willing to spend more for comfort, Chai said. He also confirmed his airline is in talks with Boeing and Airbus to obtain 10 widebody aircraft. Thai is considering the Boeing 777X and the Airbus A350-1000 but will wait until the Boeing jet is certified and in operation before finalizing a decision. Chai told Bloomberg he plans to step down when his contract expires in January. “I’d love to finish my term. By then, everything should be improving. Otherwise, in seven months or eight months, if the market is not improving, I think a lot of our airlines will be in trouble. We will be in trouble,” he said.
