Norse Atlantic Airways to launch first Manchester to Bangkok flights

Manchester Airport is to become the first UK airport outside London to offer a direct connection to the world’s most visited city when Norse Atlantic Airways begin flying to Bangkok, Thailand later this year.

The Scandinavian carrier will operate a seasonal weekly service to the city starting in November. It will join TUI’s flights to the resort city of Phuket as one of two direct routes connecting Manchester Airport with Thailand.

With 32.4 million 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 26th November and run weekly through the winter until March 2026, taking in the peak tourist season in Thailand.

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.“

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.”

Tickets for the new Bangkok route, which will operate on a Boeing 797-9, went on sale on 3rd July and a part of an ongoing expansion of Manchester Airport’s long-haul network in Asia. The hub recently celebrated the inaugural flight of the North’s only direct service to Mumbai, launched by India’s biggest airline, IndiGo.

It also comes as the airport draws closer to completing its £1.3 billion 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.

Chris Woodroofe added:

“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.”