Thai Airways International vs Japan Airlines

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

Japan Airlines (IATA: JL, ICAO: JAL) is a Japanese airline and is still operating. Detailed corporate information (founding date, ownership, headquarters and alliance) could not be verified from sources during this research round and is therefore not stated here. Check the airline's official website for these details.

Network and hubs

Network and hub details were not verified in this research round. Travellers should consult the airline's official route map.

Fleet

According to Planefinder, the Japan Airlines fleet comprised 192 aircraft across 12 types in 2026. This count includes a handful of small training or utility aircraft. The main types are:

• Boeing 737-800: 42
• Boeing 767-300: 24
• Boeing 787-8: 23
• Boeing 787-9: 22
• Airbus A350-900: 17
• Embraer 170: 18
• Embraer 190: 14
• Airbus A350-1000: 11
• Boeing 777-300ER: 9

New aircraft registrations were recorded in February and March 2026, including an A350-900 and an A350-1000, so the fleet is still being updated. Figures change over time and third-party trackers may differ from the airline's own count.

On board

Cabin layouts, seat pitch, meals, entertainment and Wi-Fi vary by aircraft and route. These details were not verified from sources in this research round, so check the airline's seat map for your specific flight.

Good to know

Baggage allowances, change fees, lounge access and loyalty programme terms depend on fare type and route. They were not confirmed from official pages in this research round. Check the airline's website before travelling.