Recently, I wrote about Austrian resuming the Tokyo route from next summer. Now it seems like Vienna’s connectivity with Asia will improve even more as the airport just announced that Thai Airways will start flights from Bangkok to Vienna from November 16, 2017.
Return of Thai Airways to Vienna
Interestingly, this is not the first time Thai Airways will operate to Vienna. The airline had operated the Bangkok-Vienna route more than two decades ago, between 1988 and 1993.
This time around, the route will be (re)launched on November 16, 2017, and it will operate four times a week. The Bangkok to Vienna flight, TG936, will operate every Monday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday – leaving departing at 1:30AM and arriving at 7:00AM. The return flight will leave Vienna at 1:30PM and arrive at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi airport at 5:20AM on the following day.
The flight will be operated by Boeing 777-200ER aircraft. Thai Airways has a total of 6 airframes of the type in its fleet, and each of the aircraft is equipped with 30 angle-flat business class and 262 economy class seats.
Not a New Route
While Thai Airways will be a new airline in the market, it will not be the only airline operating the route. Currently, the Bangkok to Vienna route is served by two other airlines – both Thai Airways’ Star Alliance partners – Austrian Airlines and Eva Air.
Austrian operates the route daily with Boeing 777-200ER aircraft.
Eva Air operates the route four times a week with its 777-300ERs as part of its Taipei-Bangkok-Vienna route.
Unlike Thai Airways, both of these airlines offer lie-flat seats in business class on the route.
Thai Airways Bangkok to Vienna Summary
Based on SeatGuru, Thai Airways will offer slightly more leg room in economy compared to the other two airlines on the route. However, when it comes to business class hard product, Austrian Airlines and Eva Air are clear winners.
Thai Airways will offer fairly old angle-flat seats with no direct aisle access for window seats. On the other hand, Austrian offers staggered configuration and Eva offers reverse herringbone seats – both of which are lie-flat and offer direct aisle access for all seats.
Overall, however, there is no doubt Vienna will benefit from this increased connectivity, and I hope the route will last a long time. And, I also hope further down the road, Thai Airways upgrades the type to one of its aircraft which will feature a cabin more competitive with the other two players in the market.