Bangkok rejoices: United Airlines launches historic Los Angeles flight!

Bangkok rejoices: United Airlines launches historic Los Angeles flight!

On October 26, 2025, a very special event took place in Bangkok: United Airlines celebrated the first flight from Los Angeles to the Thai capital. This marks the airline's return after more than eleven years and brings a breath of fresh air to international travel options for American vacationers. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) welcomed this new service with open arms, which flies daily over Hong Kong, significantly improving freedom of travel for North American guests. TAT News reports that Bangkok is once again establishing itself as the leading gateway to Asia and a major hub for long-haul travel.

In addition, a traditional water greeting was celebrated during the welcome ceremony at Suvarnabhumi Airport. Among the guests were US Ambassador to Thailand Robert F. Godec and TAT Governor Thapanee Kiatphaibool. The first flight, UA 820, departed Los Angeles at 11:15 p.m. on October 24 and landed in Bangkok at 11:25 a.m. on October 26. The return flight UA 821 leaves Bangkok daily at 4:55 p.m. and arrives in Los Angeles at 8:25 p.m. The aircraft, a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, offers 257 seats in different classes and ensures that passengers' comfort is always guaranteed.

Growing interest from America

United Airlines' new flight comes at a time when there is a notable increase in interest in Thailand from the United States. Between January 1 and October 24, 2025, 808,288 American tourists visited the Kingdom - a 5 percent increase compared to the previous year. According to forecasts, the number of American visitors could rise to 1.09 million by the end of the year, which is estimated to represent tourism revenue of approximately 62 billion baht. Roadgenius highlights that the USA is now one of the ten most important markets of origin for Thailand.

Thailand, known for its impressive Buddhist temples, beautiful beaches and diverse wildlife, was the destination for 32.4 million international tourists in 2024. However, the numbers have been in constant flux in recent years, particularly due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which saw a dramatic decline of over 83 percent in 2020. However, there has been a positive recovery since 2022, with 9.8 million arrivals in 2022 and 28.15 million visitors in 2023.

Popular travel destinations and challenges of tourism

Bangkok in particular remains a magnet for tourists and ranks 17th among the most popular travel destinations worldwide. Laenderdaten.info shows that other Thai cities such as Phuket, Ayutthaya and Chiang Mai are also popular with travelers. Nevertheless, mass tourism is a challenge: polluted beaches and other environmental problems are serious consequences of the tourism boom, and the corona pandemic had a positive effect on nature, as the decline in visitors in 2020 briefly benefited the environment.

In 2025, tourism revenue for Thailand is forecast to reach 2.3 trillion baht (approximately $65 billion). This shows that the return of United Airlines is a promising development that is important not only for travelers but also for the Thai economy. December, the busiest month, brings millions of international guests to the country every year - a sign that the world is starting to travel again and Thailand is at the top of the list as a popular destination.