Bangkok, Thailand: Thai Airways International is preparing to retire its First Class service within the next two to three years, opting instead to invest in an upgraded Business Class as part of a sweeping fleet and product modernization plan.
The national carrier’s Chief Executive Officer, Chai Eamsiri, confirmed the decision during a recent briefing, framing it as a move toward long-term efficiency and competitiveness. “We plan to eliminate First Class and replace it with enhanced Business Class cabins. It is part of our strategic plan to improve our product consistency and align with passenger demand,” he said.
At present, Thai Airways operates a mixed product that includes Economy, Premium Economy, Business (“Royal Silk”), and First Class (“Royal First”) on select Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. The airline intends to streamline this into a three-class offering: Economy, Premium Economy, and an elevated Business Class.
The airline will gradually refurbish its wide-body fleet, particularly the Boeing 777-300ERs, to remove First Class suites and replace them with a next-generation Business product. This new “Business Plus” concept is expected to include more spacious seating in the front row, enhanced privacy potentially with doors and upgraded amenities.
While First Class is being phased out, Thai Airways aims to bridge the gap by enriching its Business Class service. The airline has already begun introducing premium amenities into Business, including caviar service on select routes. This aligns with a wider industry trend in which airlines consolidate luxury offerings into an expanded Business Class product rather than maintaining costly, limited-use First Class cabins.
Passenger demand also played a decisive role. The modern Business Class products now rival traditional First Class in terms of comfort and privacy, making the higher-cost cabin less attractive and less financially sustainable for carriers.
Thai Airways’ shift is also tied to its broader fleet renewal strategy. New aircraft on order, such as Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, will be delivered without First Class cabins. The carrier is also retrofitting its existing fleet to ensure product consistency.
Maintaining First Class across just a handful of aircraft and routes such as Bangkok to London and Tokyo has become impractical. Rationalizing the fleet is expected to lower operating costs and simplify scheduling.
