British Airways customers now have a wider choice of Southeast Asian holiday destinations, thanks to an increase in flights from London to Bangkok, and an expanded codeshare partnership with Bangkok Airways.

The airline announced earlier this year that its direct route from London Gatwick to Bangkok will return on 28 October 2024, operating three times per week to the Thai capital. As of this week, the service will increase to up to five times per week between January and March 2025.

Furthermore, its existing codeshare partnership with Bangkok Airways has been expanded to open up five new destinations across Thailand and Cambodia, allowing customers to connect seamlessly in Bangkok onto:

• Phuket (HKT), Thailand
• Koh Samui (USM), Thailand
• Chaing Mai (CNX), Thailand
• Phnom Penh (PNH), Cambodia
• Siem Reap (SAI), Cambodia

Customers will have the option to incorporate a stopover in Bangkok into their journey before continuing onto their final destination on the same ticket.

Bangkok Airways, known as Asia’s Boutique Airline, operates an extensive domestic network in Thailand, as well as to destinations across Cambodia, Hong Kong, the Maldives, Laos, and Singapore. It operates a fleet of more than 20 aircraft, each decorated in different liveries of its exotic destinations.

This agreement means British Airways customers travelling from or transiting through London will be able to connect to their final destination in Thailand or Cambodia on a single ticket. Customers can expect more choice and flexibility when travelling to one of these five popular holiday destinations.

Members of British Airways’ loyalty programme, the Executive Club, will also collect Avios and earn Tier Points when flying on Bangkok Airways on a British Airways codeshare journey. Avios is the programme’s currency, which can be used as part-payment towards Reward Flights or upgrades, as well as hotel stays, car hire and more. Tier Points help Members earn status to unlock benefits such as lounge access and free seat selection.

Neil Chernoff, British Airways’ Chief Planning and Strategy Officer, said: “In October, we will be operating our first direct flight to Thailand in more than four years, so it’s a highly anticipated return to our global network. Knowing that this route will be particularly popular with our leisure customers, we’re pleased to be working with Bangkok Airways to offer more choice and make these sought-after holiday destinations more accessible.”

Chulin Kocharoen, Vice President – Network and Product Development of Bangkok Airways PLC commented: “We are pleased to expand this codeshare partnership with British Airways to strengthen our respective route networks and offer business and leisure travellers with unprecedented and convenient access to new gateways. Moreover, British Airways passengers traveling on Bangkok Airways flights will enjoy the boutique airline’s unparalleled services such as lounge access at available airports, in-flight meal and much more.”

Codeshare tickets are now available to book on www.ba.com, for travel from 28 October 2024 onwards. The existing partnership agreement offers codeshare travel between Singapore and Koh Samui for British Airways customers.