Earlier Than Expected: Thailand Getting Closer to Europe Via New Direct Warsaw-Bangkok Line

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) continues to strengthen its presence in the European market, this time with a significant move expected to make it easier for travelers from Poland and Central Europe to reach the country.

LOT Polish Airlines will launch a new direct flight route between Warsaw and Bangkok on October 7, 2026, as part of the company's expansion of international operations and increasing demand for Thailand.

LOT planned to launch the direct route between Warsaw and Bangkok on October 26, but it now turns out that the launch date has been brought forward to the beginning of the month.

LOT plane. Photo: Markus Mainka / Shutterstock

In preparation for the opening of the new line, the Tourism Bureau of Thailand held a special professional event in Bangkok, where Thai travel agents and tour operators met with representatives of leading Polish travel companies. The event was designed to strengthen business collaborations and prepare for the expected demand in the upcoming winter season.

The new route will initially operate with a frequency of three weekly flights, and will later be expanded to five weekly flights starting on October 26, 2026 throughout the winter season 2026/2027. The flights will be operated using Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft with 252 seats, with the flight time between Warsaw and Bangkok expected to be approximately 10 hours and 20 minutes.

The Tourism Bureau of Thailand emphasizes that this is a strategic step that will allow more direct and convenient access to Thailand for tourists from Eastern and Central Europe, without the need for connections through intermediate destinations in Europe or the Gulf.

According to Suladda Sarutilavan, Director of the European Region at the Tourism Bureau of Thailand, “Poland is one of Thailand’s rising European markets, and the new Warsaw–Bangkok service creates a direct gateway from Central Europe to Thailand. Through this Tabletop Sale, TAT is connecting Thai suppliers with Polish travel partners to translate strong interest into tangible travel demand and reinforce Thailand’s position as a preferred long-haul destination for Polish travelers.”

Tourism Authority of Thailand event in Bangkok. Photo: TAT Newsroom

The new line is expected to contribute significantly to tourism between the countries. According to forecasts, during the first winter season, about 47,000 tourists from Poland are expected to arrive in Thailand via the new line, with an estimated revenue of about 3.2 billion baht for the local economy. In the following winter season, the number is expected to increase to about 49,000 passengers.

Poland continues to show impressive growth in tourism to Thailand. In 2025, some 237,570 Polish tourists visited the country, an increase of more than 31% compared to the previous year. The trend continues in 2026, with an increase of about 17% in the number of visitors between January and mid-May compared to the same period last year.

Among Polish tourists, the most popular destinations in Thailand include Bangkok, Krabi, Koh Samui and Chiang Mai. The average length of stay is about 14 days, with an average expenditure of about 68,800 baht ($2,119) per traveler, a figure that reinforces the Thai strategy of encouraging quality tourism and longer stays in the country.

Phuket, Thailand. Photo: Shuttestock