RAYONG, Thailand – U-Tapao International Airport has welcomed the first aircraft of Thailand’s newest carrier, SiamWings Airlines, marking a major milestone as the airline prepares to launch scheduled commercial passenger services. The airline’s first aircraft, an Airbus A330-223 registered HS-SYB, arrived at U-Tapao on July 28 after an 8-hour, 47-minute ferry flight from Antalya, Türkiye. The aircraft departed Antalya Airport at 8:47 a.m. local time on July 27 and landed at U-Tapao International Airport–Pattaya in Rayong at 9:56 a.m. the following day.
The aircraft was welcomed by Rear Admiral Apha Chapanon, Director of U-Tapao International Airport, together with SiamWings executives led by Accountable Manager Nuchanat Saengchat, Flight Operations Chief Thawat Khwanchai, and the airline’s management team. The arrival marks an important step for SiamWings, which has chosen U-Tapao as its first operating base ahead of launching commercial flights. The wide-body Airbus A330-200 seats approximately 345 passengers and is designed for medium- and long-haul routes. It is the first aircraft to join the airline’s fleet in Thailand.
Airport officials said the airline’s decision to establish its base at U-Tapao reflects confidence in the airport’s growing potential and will help strengthen Thailand’s aviation network while supporting tourism and economic development in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC). Before the arrival, SiamWings Airlines announced on Facebook that flight SHE9101 from Antalya to U-Tapao marked the beginning of its “journey home,” describing the delivery flight as the start of a new chapter in the airline’s history.
The aircraft was manufactured in France and is approximately 14.8 years old. It previously operated with Vietnam Airlines, Nordwind Airlines, Southwind Airlines, Tajik Air, and Qanot Sharq Airlines before being leased from Türkiye’s Southwind Airlines. SiamWings received its Air Operator License (AOL) for scheduled commercial services from the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) on May 22, 2025, with U-Tapao designated as its operational base. According to Thailand’s Department of Business Development, SiamWings Airlines Co., Ltd. was incorporated on March 17, 2023, with registered capital of THB 225 million. Nuchanat Saengchat serves as the company’s director.
