Thai Airways rolls out A320 business class

Thai Airways is bringing regional business class to its single-aisle Airbus A320 jets, adding a dash of short-range comfort and points-based upgrades into the mix.

Launching in January 2025 on ‘selected routes’, Thai’s A320 Royal Silk business class will be wide and comfortable recliners with a 38” pitch and 5” recline.

While these A320s lack inflight video screens, content from the Thai Vision Connect inflight entertainment system will be available over WiFi to each traveller’s own smartphone, tablet or laptop.

The A320s were previously flown by the Star Alliance member’s now-shuttered Thai Smile regional arm, where the premium cabin followed the Euro-business model of using economy seats but with the middle seat remaining empty.

Regional business class across Asia is very much a mixed bag when it comes to single-aisle jets.

Some carriers such as Thai, Cathay Pacific and Malaysia Airlines opt for recliners while Singapore Airlines is pushing ahead with flatbeds on its Boeing 737 MAX fleet.

The most popular regional routes are given over to twin-aisle jets such as the Airbus A330 and A350, and Boeing 787 and 777, which generally have true international-grade business class.

Cathay Pacific has already locked in a flatbed business class refresh for its regional Airbus A330 workhorses, while planning ahead for the first A330neo jets to be delivered from 2028.

Also on the twin-aisle front, Thai Airways is preparing to bring back premium economy and scoping out an all-new 787 business class.