Norse Atlantic adds winter capacity to Thailand from UK

Norse Atlantic Airways is expanding capacity to Thailand including a new route from Gatwick to Phuket.

Flights will run three times a week this winter alongside an increase in frequency between Manchester and Bangkok to four a week from December.

The Phuket service will compete with a new Virgin Atlantic route running three times a week from Heathrow starting on October 18.

The long-haul low cost carrier will also continue to run winter sun routes from Gatwick to Bangkok and Cape Town.

Chief executive Eivind Roald said while also announcing increased Thailand frequencies from Olso and Stockholm: "Thailand continues to be one of the most popular destinations in our network. We are delighted to offer customers even more opportunities to visit both Bangkok and Phuket this winter, in line with our strategy of adding capacity where demand is strongest.”

He added: “Over the past months, we have taken important steps to strengthen the company, improve efficiency and sharpen our commercial focus.

“We would like to thank our customers for choosing Norse Atlantic and for the confidence they continue to place in our product. We are equally grateful to our airport partners in Manchester, London Gatwick, Oslo and Stockholm Arlanda, whose collaboration and support continue to play an important role in our growth journey.”

The seasonal Manchester-Bangkok service started last November and carried 10,000 passengers.

Weekly flights ran between last November and March, spanning Bangkok’s winter dry season.

The increased frequency runs between December 5 and April 18, 2027.

Manchester Airport managing director Chris Woodroofe said: “It’s great to see Norse’s Bangkok route not only returning this winter - but returning with quadruple the number of weekly flights.

“It means passengers heading to Thailand will have more choice than ever. 

"Bangkok is one of the world’s most-visited cities, so we knew this route would be popular - but this expansion of Norse’s service really demonstrates the demand for long-haul travel from the UK’s global gateway in the north. I’m looking forward to flights resuming later this year.”