THAI receives slots at Amsterdam Schiphol, aims for 2026 launch

Introduction

It was reported over Christmas that THAI had applied for and received a set of slots at Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport, which has widely been rumored to be the airline's next European destination. While no official details are out yet, the airline is rumored to launch flights to the city at some point in the 2nd half of 2026, once it receives additional widebody aircraft. Although this technically is not a new route for the airline but a return to a former destination, I'll go into further details below.

A THAI MD-11 pictured at Amsterdam Schiphol in 1993

The details

While details are still unreleased, it has been rumored for a while that the airline has long been keen to fly to Amsterdam again, one of the most popular European destinations from Bangkok served daily by KLM and Star Alliance partner EVA Air.

If rumors are to be believed, then it is expected that the airline will launch flights at some point in the 2nd half of 2026, using Boeing 787-9s, which the airline is expecting to receive at least 4 more of the type in 2026. While frequencies are still unclear, we can most likely expected at least a 5 times weekly service or even possibly a daily service.

As for the timing, it is most likely that the airline will have the flight depart within it's late night European departures bank, from 11PM to 1AM, which is when a majority of the carrier's flights to Europe depart. Both EVA and KLM offer primarily daytime departures to Amsterdam from Bangkok, with KLM also offering a twice weekly 23:50 departure, so a late night departure from TG should compliment the other services nicely.

The airline is rumored to launch this service using its Boeing 787-9s, which it currently has 4 aircraft with over 40 more on order

The current configuration features 30 reverse herringbone business class seats in both versions of the type that the airline has

THAI's 787-9s feature a 3-3-3 Economy layout with 298 seats in the "789" config and 292 seats in the "78W" config

Not the airline's first time at AMS

While this may seem like a brand new route, it is actually a re-launch of a route. THAI actually operated to AMS throughout the late 80s and 90s until service ended in abruptly 1999. For a while, the city was even a stop-over for the airline's London Heathrow flight. It was even once advertised as "The most punctual airline out of Amsterdam" and used this as a selling point for its AMS service.

Although a proper reason was never given for the airline's abrupt end to this popular route. It was often rumored that the airline was given a 20 year ban from the airport due to crew misbehavior during layovers (which deserves another post of its own). Whatever the reason was it seems that the airline is now clear to return to AMS and is looking to do so very soon, as Europe has long been one of the airline's most profitable markets.

If rumors are true, it will mark a return to Amsterdam after nearly 30 years

Conclusion

It seems that THAI is expecting to be gearing up a relaunch to Amsterdam after nearly 30 years away, with slots now being received and new widebodies arriving next year, it should all work out well as the route is historically been a very popular route from Bangkok, served multiple times a day by KLM and EVA.