Thai Smile

Updated 12th Aug 2026

Thai Smile stopped flying on 31 December 2023, and Thai Airways absorbed the airline into its own operation. Its fleet, eight of its nine domestic routes and most of its staff went to Thai Airways. Every one of those routes is still flown, and the table below names the airlines on each.

What happened to Thai Smile

Thai Airways filed for bankruptcy protection in 2020 and reorganised under court supervision. Absorbing Thai Smile was part of that plan: the creditors' committee approved the merger on 17 May 2023 and required it to complete before the end of that year. Thai Smile had been running up losses since it began flying in 2012.

The 20 Airbus A320-200s started moving across from the middle of 2023 and were repainted in Thai Airways colours. The last revenue flight was WE268 from Hat Yai to Bangkok on the evening of 31 December 2023, covered in ch-aviation's report on the closure. Thai Airways relaunched eight of the nine domestic routes under its own code, TG, from the 2023/24 winter schedule.

The wind-down took effect on 1 January 2024. Royal Orchid Plus was Thai Airways' own loyalty programme, and miles flown on a Thai Smile ticket credited to it throughout, so members had no separate balance to move when the airline closed.

Who flies its routes now

Thai Smile flew nine domestic routes at the end, all of them from Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK). Thai Airways is flying eight of the nine.

Thai Smile flew from Suvarnabhumi. Of the airlines on these routes now, Thai Airways, Thai Vietjet Air and Bangkok Airways also use Suvarnabhumi, while Nok Air, Thai AirAsia and Thai Lion Air fly from Don Mueang instead. Check which airport your replacement flight leaves from before you plan the rest of the trip.

The exception is Bangkok to Narathiwat. Our current schedule data shows only Thai AirAsia on it. Check the route before you build a connection through Narathiwat Airport.

Former Thai Smile route	Airlines in our current schedule data
Bangkok to Chiang Mai	Nok Air, Thai AirAsia, Bangkok Airways, Thai Lion Air, Thai Airways, Thai Vietjet Air
Bangkok to Chiang Rai	Nok Air, Thai AirAsia, Thai Lion Air, Thai Airways, Thai Vietjet Air
Bangkok to Phuket	Nok Air, Thai AirAsia, Bangkok Airways, Thai Lion Air, Thai Airways, Thai Vietjet Air
Bangkok to Krabi	Nok Air, Thai AirAsia, Bangkok Airways, Thai Lion Air, Thai Airways, Thai Vietjet Air
Bangkok to Hat Yai	Nok Air, Thai AirAsia, Thai Lion Air, Thai Airways, Thai Vietjet Air
Bangkok to Khon Kaen	Nok Air, Thai AirAsia, Thai Lion Air, Thai Airways, Thai Vietjet Air
Bangkok to Udon Thani	Nok Air, Thai AirAsia, Thai Lion Air, Thai Airways, Thai Vietjet Air
Bangkok to Ubon Ratchathani	Nok Air, Thai AirAsia, Thai Lion Air, Thai Airways, Thai Vietjet Air
Bangkok to Narathiwat	Thai AirAsia

What Thai Smile was

Thai Smile was set up on 19 August 2011 under the working name Thai Wings and began flying under its own name on 7 July 2012. It was a wholly owned subsidiary of Thai Airways, and it held its own Air Operator's Certificate and its own International Air Transport Association (IATA) code, WE, the two letters that opened flight numbers like that final WE268. Holding both meant it could operate flights on its own licence and sell them under its own code.

It ran a light premium, or hybrid, model positioned between Thailand's low-cost carriers and full-service Thai Airways. Seats were assigned, a checked baggage allowance came with the fare and catering was served on board. Calling Thai Smile a low-cost airline did not match what it sold.

The airline was headquartered in Bangkok and based its operation at Suvarnabhumi. Alongside the nine domestic routes it flew to around 14 regional international destinations.

The fleet and the cabins

Thai Smile operated 20 Airbus A320-200s, and the whole fleet went to Thai Airways at the merger. The cabin was split in two: Smile and Smile Plus.

Smile Plus was the premium cabin. It had a seat pitch of 33 inches, which is the gap from one seat back to the next, and the middle seat of each row of three was left empty. Six aircraft carried that layout, at 168 seats in total, and the other 14 were fitted out as all-economy at 162.

Frequently asked questions

Is Thai Smile still flying?

No. Thai Smile stopped operating on 31 December 2023, and Thai Airways took over its fleet, eight of its nine domestic routes and most of its staff. There is no Thai Smile flight left to book.

Who flies Thai Smile's old routes now?

Thai Airways flies eight of the nine domestic routes Thai Smile held when it closed. Bangkok to Narathiwat is the one it did not take on, and Thai AirAsia is the airline our current data shows there. The table above lists each route with the airlines flying it.

What happened to my Royal Orchid Plus miles from Thai Smile flights?

Royal Orchid Plus was Thai Airways' programme rather than Thai Smile's, so miles from a Thai Smile flight credited to a Thai Airways account at the time. The closure did not create a separate balance to transfer. Ask Thai Airways if a particular flight is missing from your statement.

Was Thai Smile a low-cost airline?

No. Thai Smile ran a light premium model between the low-cost carriers and full-service Thai Airways, with assigned seats, a checked baggage allowance and catering included in the fare.