The Thailand Guides

Thai Airways and AirAsia Cut Dozens of Flights in May as Jet Fuel Costs Double

· 2 min read Travel News
Bangkok cityscape with Suvarnabhumi Airport serving as Thailand's main international gateway

Contents

  1. Why fuel prices surged
  2. What Thai Airways is cutting
  3. AirAsia joins the cuts
  4. What to do if your flight is affected

Thai Airways has removed 46 flights from its May schedule and Thai AirAsia is suspending a number of summer routes, as jet fuel costs that have roughly doubled since February continue to squeeze Thailand’s carriers.

Why fuel prices surged

Jet fuel climbed from around USD 90 per barrel at the start of the year to a peak of approximately USD 240 following the escalation of conflict in the Middle East in February 2026. Industry data indicates roughly 150,000 flights have been trimmed worldwide as airlines race to protect margins during the spike.

What Thai Airways is cutting

The flag carrier’s 46 cancellations represent around 4–5% of its May schedule. The steepest single-route reduction is Bangkok Suvarnabhumi to Seoul Incheon, where frequencies drop from three daily to one daily between 8 and 31 May. Confirmed reductions also cover Bangkok–Beijing, Bangkok–Hong Kong, Bangkok–Singapore, Bangkok–New Delhi, and Bangkok–Frankfurt. A separate wave of cancellations at Don Mueang, Chiang Mai, and Hat Yai airports has affected domestic services and regional routes to Kuala Lumpur, Kuwait, and Yangon.

Thai Airways has also raised international fuel surcharges: economy class passengers now pay USD 140 (up from USD 55) and Royal Silk and Royal First passengers pay USD 170 (up from USD 80). These surcharges apply to new bookings and, in most cases, to existing tickets that are rebooked onto replacement flights.

AirAsia joins the cuts

Thai AirAsia has suspended a number of summer routes, compounding disruption for travellers who rely on its dense domestic and short-haul network. The carrier cited high fuel costs and softer shoulder-season demand as the main drivers.

What to do if your flight is affected

If you hold confirmed bookings on either carrier for May or June, check your reservation now. Affected passengers are entitled to rebooking on the next available service or a full refund; proactively contacting the airline or your travel agent avoids surprises at check-in.

Travellers between Bangkok and northern or southern Thailand have alternatives. Trains on the Bangkok–Chiang Mai route run normally — see our guide to getting around Thailand for schedules and intercity bus options. Because disruption-related insurance claims can be complex when an airline restructures rather than formally cancels a flight, we also recommend reviewing your policy before departure. Our travel insurance guide explains the key terms to look for.

Bangkok’s international gateways remain fully operational; it is flight frequencies rather than airport operations that have changed. For trip planning beyond the airport, see our Bangkok hub.

Thai Airways says it is monitoring fuel costs and load factors daily and will restore capacity as conditions allow.