Manchester Airport to become the UK’s only airport outside London with direct flights to Bangkok – the world’s most-visited city
Photo - FlyNorse
· Manchester Airport and Norse Atlantic Airways are to launch flights to Thailand’s capital Bangkok later this year
· Bangkok is the world’s most visited city but until now no airport outside London offers direct flights from the UK
· Tickets went on sale today – hot on the heels of Manchester Airport launching the North’s first direct connection to Mumbai on Tuesday
· Flights to operate weekly on a Boeing 787-9 between November and March
Manchester Airport will become the first UK airport outside London to offer direct flights to Bangkok in Thailand.
The UK’s global gateway in the North will work with Norse Atlantic Airways to deliver a weekly service to the world’s most visited city starting in November.
Tickets for the new service, which will operate on a Boeing 797-9, went on sale today – just a few days after Manchester Airport celebrated the inaugural of the North’s only direct service to Mumbai with India’s biggest airline IndiGo.
Manchester Airport Managing Director Chris Woodroofe said:
“Here at Manchester Airport we’re proud to connect the North to the world. Bangkok is one of the most exciting destinations on the planet – and is rightly one of the most popular.
“Many people from the region travel there every year but until now they have had to book connecting flights. This new route will make a huge difference by meaning people can get there directly from the UK’s global gateway in the North.
“It will also be a great opportunity for the region to welcome people coming here from Thailand to experience our vibrant cities, enjoy our spectacular scenery, study in our elite universities and even watch our football clubs – which are almost as popular in Thailand as they are here.
“I’m really looking forward to working with Norse Atlantic Airways to deliver this route later this year and I can’t wait to welcome its first passengers.
“This is a really exciting time for Manchester Airport, with the launch of the North’s only direct route to Mumbai earlier this week – and with our £1.3bn transformation programme entering its final stages ahead of completion later this year.
“It means not only are we offering people services to the destinations they want to travel to – but we’re doing so in an airport that rivals any across Europe.”
Bjørn Tore Larsen, CEO of Norse Atlantic Airways, said:
“We don’t just follow demand — we unlock it. This route has been waiting to happen, and we’re proud to be the ones making it a reality.
“Manchester is a key gateway to the North of England, and Bangkok is a magnet for adventure, business, and culture. Connecting the two cities is a natural next step for Norse as we continue to disrupt and expand in the long-haul space.”
With 32.4m visitors in 2024, Bangkok was the world’s most-visited city according to the Global Tourism Forum.
Its popularity is driven by its rich culture, nightlife and good value for money – as well as being a good starting or end point for travelling around the wider region.
The new service from Manchester to Bangkok will launch on 26 November and run weekly through the winter until March 2026. Bangkok is most popular over the winter months as the summer is monsoon season.
The announcement comes just days after Manchester celebrated the inaugural flight of its new service to Mumbai with IndiGo. The route is the North’s only direct connection to India’s financial hub.
It also comes as the airport draws closer to completing its £1.3bn transformation programme. The brand-new Terminal 2 is double the size of the previous terminal and has already won the prestigious Prix Versailles for design and architecture. When it is fully open later this year it will cater for around 70% of the airport’s passengers.
