Air India Express will discontinue its direct Amritsar (ATQ) – Bangkok Suvarnabhumi (BKK) service from August 2025. Bookings are already closed beyond July 30, marking a second major withdrawal from Southeast Asia routes out of Amritsar, following Batik Air’s exit from the Kuala Lumpur–Amritsar sector.
Despite early optimism, the Bangkok route failed to gain traction. Between January and May 2025, Air India Express recorded a 67.27% passenger load factor (PLF) — well below international viability thresholds.
Structural issues weighed heavily on performance: high fare sensitivity, lack of business or premium traffic, and poor onward connectivity. The route operated purely on point-to-point demand, with no hub at either end to support transit traffic or enhance yield.
Thai Lion Air (SL) also struggled. It flew 26,775 passengers between Amritsar and Bangkok Don Mueang (DMK) from November 2024 to May 2025 with a PLF of just 63.09%, despite a temporary seasonal spike.
With average return fares between USD $170–220, low yields and inconsistent demand made the route commercially unsustainable. Tour group reliance and seasonal travel created sharp fluctuations in traffic, an unreliable foundation for international operations.
Air India Express will continue its Bangkok services from Pune, Surat, and Lucknow, where more balanced demand and diaspora links offer better prospects.
Adding flights alone doesn’t secure success. Route viability hinges on holistic planning, demand diversity, hub connectivity, and network synergies remain essential for long-term sustainability.
