Thai Airways International vs SWISS

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

SWISS (Swiss International Air Lines) is the flag carrier of Switzerland. According to Wikipedia, it was founded on 31 March 2002 after the bankruptcy of Swissair and was built around the regional airline Crossair. It keeps Crossair's IATA code LX and Swissair's ICAO code SWR. The airline is a subsidiary of the Lufthansa Group and a member of Star Alliance. Its headquarters are in Kloten, near Zurich Airport. It reported revenue of €6,481 million for 2025.

Network and hubs

Zurich is the main hub and Geneva the secondary hub. SWISS operates scheduled services across Europe and to North America, South America, Africa and Asia, serving around 120 destinations. Edelweiss Air is a subsidiary, and Helvetic Airways flies Embraer E190 aircraft on SWISS's behalf.

Fleet

The same Wikipedia article lists 87 aircraft in service and 13 on order (September 2026). Types are:

• Airbus A220-100 (3) and A220-300 (21)
• Airbus A320 family: A320-200 (6), A320neo (11), A321-100 (3), A321-200 (3), A321neo (7)
• Airbus A330-300 (14)
• Airbus A340-300 (4), due to be retired by 2028 and replaced by the A350-900
• Airbus A350-900 (3), delivered since October 2025
• Boeing 777-300ER (12)

The A220-100s have been affected by Pratt & Whitney engine problems and are due to be retired by 2027.

On board

Short-haul flights are in a single economy cabin plus business seating. Long-haul aircraft have Economy, Premium Economy and Business; the Boeing 777-300ER also has First with eight suites. A330-300 and 777-300ER cabins are due to be retrofitted with the SWISS Senses interior. Seat pitch, meal service and Wi-Fi vary by aircraft and fare, so check the booking page for the specific flight.

Good to know

• Baggage: according to the SWISS baggage FAQ, Economy includes 1 x 23 kg checked, but not on Light or Basic fares. Premium Economy includes 2 x 23 kg, Business 2 x 32 kg and First 3 x 32 kg.
• Cabin bags: Send My Bag reports an 8 kg cabin bag in Economy, but only a personal item on Economy Basic fares. Confirm this with SWISS before travelling.
• Loyalty: SWISS participates in the Miles & More programme.
• Fees for changes, upgrades and lounge access depend on fare and route; check swiss.com.