News
THAI inks significant transpacific codeshares with EVA as A350 troubles mount
October 21st 2016
Thai Airways International (THAI) on Monday signed a wide-reaching codeshare partnership with fellow Star Alliance member, Taiwan’s EVA Airways, to cover all of both carriers’ services between Bangkok and Taipei, and more importantly, all of EVA’s transpacific routes, including Houston, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Seattle, Toronto, Vancouver and Chicago. Read More »
The agreement certainly marks a breakthrough for THAI. The airline is currently barred from launching its own services to the U.S., or codeshare with a U.S. carrier, after the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), downgraded Thailand’s aviation safety rating to Category 2, citing serious safety deficiencies.
“This codeshare agreement enables EVA and Thai Airways to combine resources to attract more North America passengers and grow bookings in Southeast Asia,” EVA Air said in a statement. “The codeshare strengthens North America and Southeast Asia markets for both carriers.”
In separate news, THAI is still off to an unlucky start with its A350 operations. With two -900s now in service, the Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) still bans THAI from launching service with the A350 to Melbourne as the airline had planned. Officially, the Australian authorities have explained their reticence with “unfamiliarity” with the aircraft, which is curious, given Singapore Airlines, Qatar Airways and soon Cathay Pacific Airways have been approved to fly their A350s to Australia.
Meanwhile, THAI A350s continue plying the trunk routes from Bangkok to Chiang Mai and Phuket, but the airline told Orient Aviation this week that it will now roster the XWB on a number of key routes to Europe, as well as Dubai and Singapore, whilst waiting for clearance Down Under.
