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Thai Airways International

Thailand's national carrier that nearly collapsed in the pandemic, then staged one of aviation's great recoveries

Transformed — Thai Airways filed for business rehabilitation as the pandemic devastated aviation, but after a successful recovery it announced in July 2025 that it would be relisted on the Stock Exchange of Thailand — a remarkable turnaround for a national carrier.

Thai Airways International was founded in 1960 and became Thailand's national flag carrier, known for its distinctive service, its iconic branding and its role as one of the region's leading international airlines. For decades it was a symbol of Thai national pride and a key part of the country's tourism and economy.

The COVID-19 pandemic pushed the airline to the brink. With global travel shut down and revenue collapsing, Thai Airways filed for business rehabilitation with Thailand's Central Bankruptcy Court, a formal restructuring process designed to save the struggling carrier from collapse. It was one of the most high-profile aviation failures of the pandemic era.

But Thai Airways did not disappear. Through a lengthy rehabilitation process it restructured its debts and operations, and by July 2025 it announced it would return to the Stock Exchange of Thailand — a remarkable comeback for a national carrier that had been on the edge of failure. It has kept its name, but its financial story is one of the region's most striking recoveries.

Quick facts

Founded
1960
Role
Thailand's national flag carrier
The shock
COVID-19 devastated aviation
Low point
Filed for business rehabilitation
The turnaround
Restructured and recovered
Relisted
Announced July 2025 (Stock Exchange of Thailand)
Name
Unchanged

Sources

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