Thai to retrofit ex-Thai Smile A320s with new business-class seats

Thai Airways International is to debut new business-class product on its fleet of Airbus A320s, as it completes the acquisition of its regional unit Thai Smile Airways. In response to FlightGlobal’s queries, the Bangkok-based carrier confirms the retrofitted A320s are scheduled to enter service in Q4 of this year. The 20 narrowbody jets inherited from the regional unit currently feature an all-economy layout of 168 seats. Thai did not disclose how many new business-class seats it will install. The retrofit will also see the A320 fleet fitted with a wireless in-flight entertainment system, a departure from Thai’s widebody fleet which features seat-back entertainment systems. Star Alliance carrier Thai deploys the A320s on domestic routes, as well as short-haul flights to countries such as Cambodia, Vietnam, the Philippines, Singapore and India. Thai began taking ex-Thai Smile A320s in June 2023, a month after it announced plans to merge the carrier into mainline operations. In an interview with FlightGlobal, airline chief Chai Eamsiri says the A320s allow the carrier to “right-size” its international operations, while improving fleet utilisation rates.<br/>