Thai-bound flights continue unimpeded
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is monitoring the US government shutdown, which has severely disrupted domestic American travel, although international flights including to Thailand have not been affected yet.
The US government shutdown has lasted for more than a month, causing delays and cancellations of domestic flights due to a shortage of air traffic control and transportation security administration workers.
“While international flights to Thailand haven’t been directly affected, we need to keep an eye on this situation as there is a tendency for delays of transiting international passengers,” said Chiravadee Khunsub, deputy governor for Europe, Africa, the Middle East and the Americas at the TAT.
Last week, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) instructed airlines to cut flights by 10% as of this Friday at 40 major airports across the US.
Mrs Chiravadee said the situation has left passengers frustrated about their trips. Airlines are offering refunds for impacted travellers.
Sentiment remains a concern, though demand for travel remains high, particularly overseas trips.
Passengers in the US were advised to prepare extra travel time for connecting flights to international destinations.
She said United’s direct flight from Los Angeles to Bangkok via Hong Kong is still operating as normal.
Travel confidence in the US market for international destinations remains at a moderate to high level, particularly for Asia and Thailand, which are perceived as being more valuable than domestic trips, as the US is facing high inflation.
If the government shutdown persists until the middle of November, the number of flights may be slashed by up to 20%, based on the FAA’s forecast.
In this scenario, international flights may be affected, said Mrs Chiravadee.
As of Nov 9, Thailand welcomed 870,469 US tourists, a 5.5% increase year-on-year.
She said the TAT is still confident the number from this market would exceed 1 million this year.
Based on the current inbound trend, it could reach 1.09 million, a 6% increase year-on-year.
Earlier this month, the TAT also boosted the long-haul market from Europe, supporting Thai tourism operators in joining the World Travel Mart trade show in London.
At the “Destinations with Heart” session at the trade event, Mrs Chiravadee shared Thailand’s commitment to sustainable tourism, as well as its “Go Thai Be Free” initiative, ensuring the nation’s inclusive and welcoming atmosphere for all travellers.