Thai Airways International vs Finnair

Overview

Thai Airways International is the flag carrier of Thailand. According to Wikipedia, it was founded in 1960 as a joint venture with Scandinavian Airlines and began operating in its current form in 1988 after merging with Thai Airways Company. The Ministry of Finance holds 42.94% of the shares, and the airline is listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand. Its headquarters are in Chatuchak, Bangkok. Thai is a founding member of Star Alliance. Its regional subsidiary Thai Smile was merged back into the mainline carrier from 2023.

Network and hubs

The main hub is Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport. As of January 2026 the airline served 51 international and 9 domestic destinations in 29 countries, with a network focused on Europe, Asia and Oceania. A return to North America is under discussion, according to Aviation A2Z (July 2026).

Fleet

Wikipedia lists a fleet of 80 aircraft as of January 2026, with a large order book (see the fleet page). In July 2026 Aviation A2Z reported a Boeing 787 fleet of 45 aircraft, including those on order. TTG Asia (25 September 2026) reports that long-haul flying will rely on the Airbus A350-900, Boeing 777-300ER and Boeing 787 family as older wide-bodies retire. It also reports that the Airbus A321neo fleet will grow from nine to 15 by the end of 2026, with a target of 32. The fleet is to be streamlined to four types, with a cabin overhaul planned for 2027.

On board

• Cabins: Royal Silk (business), Premium Economy and Economy, depending on aircraft. Royal First is listed in some baggage tables.
• Meals: Thai and international dishes, which vary by route and month. Pre-selection is available up to 72 hours before departure.
• Seat pitch, entertainment and Wi-Fi: not confirmed in the sources reviewed, and these vary by aircraft. Check the airline before booking.

Good to know

• Cabin baggage: Thai's official page allows one hand-carry bag of up to 7 kg.
• Checked baggage: third-party sources such as HappyFares report a piece-based allowance for tickets issued from 25 November 2025 for travel from 2 March 2026. Economy Saver and Standard include 1 x 23 kg, and Royal Silk includes 2 x 32 kg. Older tickets keep the weight-based allowance. Check the official site for your fare.
• Punctuality: Cirium reported 79.29% on-time arrivals for June 2025.
• Lounges: Royal Orchid and Royal Silk lounges. The loyalty programme is Royal Orchid Plus.

Overview

Finnair is the flag carrier and largest full-service airline of Finland. According to Wikipedia, it was founded on 1 November 1923 as Aero O/Y, making it one of the oldest airlines in continuous operation. Its headquarters are in Aviapolis, Vantaa, on the grounds of Helsinki Airport. The Finnish State is the majority shareholder, with 55.68% held through the Prime Minister's Office, and the company is listed on Nasdaq Helsinki. Finnair is a member of the oneworld alliance, and its frequent-flyer programme is Finnair Plus. The chief executive is Turkka Kuusisto.

Network and hubs

Helsinki-Vantaa is the sole hub. Wikipedia lists 104 destinations. A one-stop connection through Helsinki links Europe with Asia, which has long been the airline's main long-haul focus. A 2026 industry analysis reports 12 new European destinations for summer 2026 and a first Australian service, to Melbourne, planned from October 2026. The same analysis notes that Russian airspace closure has forced a reshaping of the Asian network. Finnair and its subsidiaries dominate domestic and international air travel within Finland.

Fleet

Wikipedia gives a fleet of 80 aircraft (retrieved September 2026), including aircraft operated by Nordic Regional Airlines, which Finnair part-owns (40%) and which flies ATR 72-500 and Embraer E190 aircraft in Finnair livery. The long-haul fleet is built around the Airbus A350-900 and A330-300; the 2026 analysis cites about 17 A350-900s and 8 A330-300s. Narrow-body flying uses Airbus A320-family jets. In March 2026 Finnair reportedly agreed to order 18 Embraer E195-E2 aircraft, with options and purchase rights for more.

On board

Cabin layouts, seat pitch, meal service, entertainment and Wi-Fi vary by aircraft and route, and could not be confirmed from the sources reviewed for this profile. Travellers should check the details for their flight on finnair.com.

Good to know

• Finnair Plus is the loyalty programme, and it uses the Avios currency, as shown on the Wikipedia page.
• As a oneworld member, Finnair offers connections and reciprocal benefits with partner airlines.
• Baggage allowances, change fees and lounge access depend on fare type and route. Check the official Finnair website before booking.
• Finnair's traffic has been recovering. Q1 2026 revenue was reported at €778.1 million, up 12.1% year on year.