The regional subsidiary of Thai Airways, Thai Smile is set to become Star Alliance’s second Connecting Partner airline. The Connecting Partner programme was launched in 2016 to fill gaps in regional connections between the alliance’s full member airlines. As a Connecting Partner, Thai Smile does not need to fulfil commercial relationships with all full members but partner with just three.

“This will support us in further strengthening our position as the leading airline alliance network”

It will meet these criteria by the end of the year, Star Alliance said. Thai Smile will add 11 destinations to the alliance’s network which spans 194 countries.

“Thai Smile is set to become the next Star Alliance Connecting Partner, which will support us in further strengthening our position as the leading airline alliance network,” said Jeffrey Goh, CEO, Star Alliance. The Bangkok-based carrier operates an all-Airbus fleet of A320 aircraft.

The first Star Alliance Connecting Partner was Juneyao Airlines.