BANGKOK, Thailand – Air India Express launched direct flights between Visakhapatnam and Bangkok on October 27, opening another gateway for Indian holidaymakers as Thailand pursues its target of 2.5 million Indian visitors in 2026.
Visakhapatnam is a port and industrial city in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, on the country’s eastern coast overlooking the Bay of Bengal. Set against the Eastern Ghats hills, it offers Thailand access to a regional market beyond India’s major metropolitan centres.
The inaugural flight, IX904, arrived at Suvarnabhumi Airport at 4 p.m. Passengers were welcomed by Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) executives led by Patsee Permvongsene, executive director for ASEAN, South Asia and the South Pacific, alongside airline representatives including Rajesh Sharma.
The service operates on Tuesdays and Fridays, departing Visakhapatnam at 11:35 a.m. and reaching Bangkok at 4 p.m., with all times local. According to the NNT report, Tuesday flights use a 180-seat Airbus A320 and Friday services a 176-seat Boeing 737, providing 356 inbound seats weekly.
The launch follows Air India Express’s introduction of Kochi–Bangkok flights on October 25, operating four times weekly with a 176-seat Boeing 737.
TAT is targeting weddings and celebrations, luxury holidays, wellness experiences and family travel to encourage longer stays, higher spending and repeat visits. Thailand recorded 1,896,058 Indian arrivals between January 1 and October 26. TAT’s latest release puts average spending at 41,009 baht per person per trip and the average stay at almost seven nights.
Thailand welcomed approximately 2.49 million Indian visitors in 2025, generating more than 93 billion baht. Its 2026 targets are 2.5 million arrivals and 97.86 billion baht in tourism revenue, supported by expanded air connections and marketing partnerships.
