Thai Eastar Jet

Updated 12th Aug 2026

Thai Eastar Jet never flew. It was announced in 2019 as a joint venture between Eastar Jet of South Korea and Thai partners, it planned to start flying in April 2020, and it did not operate a single scheduled service. The aviation data provider Centre for Aviation (CAPA) records it as having failed to launch.

What was planned

The base was to be Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK), and the first route was to be Bangkok to Male in the Maldives, flown by Boeing 737-800s. Kaohsiung in Taiwan and destinations in South Korea were mentioned for a later phase.

Why it never started

The Thai operating certificate was expected in January 2020 and the launch was set for April 2020, which is when COVID-19 grounded much of the industry. Neither the certificate nor the launch happened.

The public record goes quiet after the planned launch, and the venture was wound down quietly afterwards. Thai Summer Airways was announced in the same period and did not begin flying either.

Eastar Jet of South Korea is a different airline, and it is flying

Eastar Jet is a South Korean carrier, founded in 2007, which flew its first service from Seoul to Jeju in January 2009. It is a separate company from the Thai venture, and it is operating today.

It was grounded from 24 March 2020 and its Korean certificate lapsed around May 2020. A sale to Jeju Air was agreed in March 2020 and withdrawn that July, and the airline entered court receivership in early 2021. Its certificate was reinstated in February 2023 and it returned to flying on 26 March 2023, rebuilding from three aircraft in 2023 to about fifteen the following year.

A booking made under the Eastar Jet name is with the South Korean airline, not with a Thai domestic operator. Thai Eastar Jet held no certificate and sold no tickets, so there is nothing to book under that name.

What this site covers instead

The Bangkok to Male service Thai Eastar Jet planned is an international one, and this site covers Thailand's domestic network, so it is not a route we carry.

For a domestic leg, Thai routes are flown by carriers including Thai AirAsia and Nok Air, and the full set of operators is on the airlines index.

Frequently asked questions

Did Thai Eastar Jet ever fly?

Thai Eastar Jet never operated a scheduled service. It was announced in 2019, planned to launch in April 2020, and was wound down without flying.

Why did Thai Eastar Jet never launch?

Its Thai operating certificate was expected in January 2020 and its first flights were set for April 2020, which is when COVID-19 grounded much of the industry. The public record goes quiet after the planned launch.

Can I book a Thai Eastar Jet flight?

Thai Eastar Jet did not start operating and never sold flights. A booking offered under the Eastar Jet name is with the South Korean airline, which is a separate company.

Is Eastar Jet of South Korea still flying?

Eastar Jet of South Korea is flying. It stopped in March 2020, went through court receivership, and returned to service on 26 March 2023 after its certificate was reinstated.