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Thai airways most recently won awards from Skytrax in 2006 for Worlds Best Cabin Staff and placed second in 2007 in the Best Airline in the World category. It is the national carrier of Thailand, operating out of its hub at Suvarnabhumi Airport. Thai Airways also offers many non-stop passenger flights from Chaing Mai International Airport, Don Mueang International Airport and Phuket International Airport.

The Airway International Company Limited was formed in’60 as a joint venture between Thailand’s domestic airline, Thai Airways Company and Scandinavian Airline System. It was after 17 years that the government bought SAS”s holdings which made it the sole owner of the airline.

Initial departures started from Bangkok to nine other countires in Asia. By’80, the primary trans continental flights were to Australia, then to Europe and finally North America. After the company had merged with the Thai Airways Company, it went through a period of rapid growth.

In’97, Thai Airways was a founding member of the Star Alliance network through which member airlines codeshare with each other, expanding their flight offerings. Additional partnerships have allowed Thai Airways to expand its list of destinations to include Africa (ending Jan. 16, 2009), China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Vietnam, Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Kuwait, Oman, United Arab Emirates, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Russia, Spain Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States, Australia, Queensland, Victoria, Western Australia, and New Zealand. The airlines route from Bangkok to Los Angeles is among the longest non-stop commercial flights currently operated.

Thai Airway’s fleet includes a total of 89 aircraft; the largest of these is considered to be the Boeing 467-400, which seats 389 passengers.

There are four travel classes that an airline may offer, which include Royal First, Royal Silk, Premium Economy, and Economy.

Royal First Class offers flat-bed seats and is available mostly on Europe-Australia and some intra-Asian flights. Seats are equipped with touch screens, audio-video on demand and in-flight entertainment systems and lumbar massage. Passengers may also choose from more than 20 meal options.

The royal silk travel class available in this airline is mostly like the business class which consists of angled, lie-flat business class seats that provides lumbar massage. And every seat has a 17-20 touch screens and AVOD and IFE.

Premium Economy Class is available on intercontinental flights from Bangkok and Los Angeles on the Airbus A40-500. Fewer seats are available on these planes to offer more room for the reclining seats and leg rests. These seats also come with 10.5 touch screens with AVOD and IFE.

Economy Class seating is less roomy than the other classes, but includes AVOD.

Thai Airlines has a frequent flyer miles program called Royal Orchid Plus. More than 2,000,000 people all over the world belong to the program. There are three levels in the program, Member, Silver and Gold. You can earn miles for flying on Thai Airlines, and also for code share flights to and from Bangkok, Thailand. You can also earn miles for flights on the partner airlines, which are Alliance and Jet Airways. You can even earn miles for staying at a partner hotel.

One of the seven Thai Departure Lounges at Suvarnbhumi Airport can be visited by Thai Royal Silk Class,Star Alliance Gold passengers and Thai Royal First Class passengers.Traditional Thai massage,spa Jacuzzi suites and foot massage is offered by the Royal Orchid Spa.

Tom Martens is the content syndication coordinator for South Aricas leading Flight comparison portal, which includes Thai Airways amongst others.